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WATCH: Fisherman’s close encounter with ‘groot krokodil’
The reptile appears to have been looking for a quiet area away from people.
Picture: George Shacks
The crocodile that has been keeping Richards Bay residents on their toes for the past few weeks was spotted on Monday night at Casuarinas, near the Small Craft Harbour, by a fisherman who unwittingly blocked its path.
It was just after 9pm when the fisherman was going home that he saw the crocodile in front of his bakkie.
The crocodile lunged at the bakkie, damaging one of the spotlights.
North Coast Anti-Poaching (NCAP) was called out to assist in coaxing the crocodle away from the vehicle.
‘We arrived there at about 9.20pm and the croc had apparently run out of a small pool of water, towards the bakkie, before it lunged at the bakkie,’ said George Shacks of NCAP.
“We managed to herd the croc away from the immediate area, towards a sandbank.”
Shacks said the reptile was as long as the 3m pole with he used to send it on its way.
Having initially been seen at the Small Craft Harbour’s recreational beach and in the vicinity of the commercial slipway, the crocodile was seen near berth 708 at the weekend, close to where it was found on Monday night.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife rangers said the reptile appeared to be looking for a quiet area away from people and headed to Casuarinas, which was still officially closed to the public.
Unsuccessful attempts by conservation authorities to trap the crocodile in order to relocate it have led to discussions on how else to remove it from the area.
Capturing and relocating of wildlife could only be done by Ezemvelo as the region’s conservation authority.
This involved much planning as the animal could not simply be released anywhere, and permits need to be secured first.
This article was republished from Zululand Observer with permission
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