Crocodile hunting was once lucrative, with its skin sought after for its power to protect people against evil spirits, and for use in the fashion industry

‘We’re seeing fewer crocodiles after the acid spill’ – conservationist

As demand for crocodile skin handbags increase, luxury goods companies such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci are making acquisitions to secure croc supply.

Police have been asked to join the hunt for as many as 10 000 crocodiles that escaped from a farm during floods, say officials.

Processed python skin sells for a square metre, while a crocodile pelt can bring in between and depending on its size, explained Dauda.

The cause behind a recent spate of crocodile deaths at Olifants Gorge in the Kruger National Park is still unknown, the government said on Wednesday.

Mining has been blamed for the death of more than 50 crocodiles along the Olifants River in Kruger National Park in the past month.

Ecologists at the Kruger National Park are puzzled over the recent spate of crocodile deaths, the park’s management said on Wednesday.