Juvenile Nile crocodile confiscated from Eastleigh man
“After hearing this news, I had reason to believe that the crocodile was injured.”
After receiving an anonymous tip-off from the community, Inspector Jade Nel of Edenvale SPCA confiscated a juvenile Nile crocodile.
The crocodile was confiscated on October 11 from an Eastleigh man in Edenvale.
Nel said she was informed that the crocodile was allegedly placed on a mechanical rodeo bull and thrown off when the bull was turned on.
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“After hearing this news, I had reason to believe that the crocodile was injured,” said Nel.
“All I was given was the individual’s name and the name of his workplace.”
She said it took four days to track down the man.
Nel said Nile crocodiles are an indigenous and extremely protected species.
The confiscated crocodile was 40cm long and estimated to be four months old.
“When we asked the individual if he owned a crocodile, he just shrugged,” said Nel.
“After further investigation, I discovered the crocodile had been kept in a bathtub but I could not find the reptile,” said Nel.
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After asking the owner’s girlfriend where the crocodile was, it was brought from where it was hidden and given to Nel.
“It had been placed out of sight on a windowsill behind a curtain.”
Nel said the crocodile did not have adequate living conditions and had no access to sunlight where it was being kept, and its owner did not have a permit for it.
Edenvale SAPS and SOS security assisted with the confiscation.
Nel said when she first assessed the reptile, it did not appear to have any injuries.
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The crocodile was taken to the Terrace Road Veterinary Clinic where it was kept overnight before being taken to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital on October 12.
“I was first told that the man found the crocodile while fishing and he picked it up. His girlfriend later told me that she had bought it online thinking that it was an alligator.”
Nel said because of the highly protected nature of Nile crocodiles, authorities from South African nature conservation are assisting her in the investigation.
“A case will be opened by the conservation authorities once we have all the necessary information,” said Nel.
“I will investigate the matter and follow it to court.”
Nel said she is still waiting for the full report from nature conservation authorities.
