At least two crocodiles are missing after N3TC officers stopped a truck carrying the reptiles on the N3 near the Winteron turn-off last night just after 6pm. The scene was only cleared after 10pm.

The truck was carrying close to 3000 juvenile crocodiles when it was stopped and searched. The officers had spotted crocodiles peering out of the cargo hold as they drove past and it was stopped. As officers questioned the driver, they realised he had an expired permit to transport the crocs.

Pandemonium then broke out as some of the truck’s cargo managed to break free.

According to SPCA trainee inspector Kevin Khumalo, “One of the crocodiles was killed by a passing truck and two managed to escape into the night.”

The crocodiles were being transported to Limpopo. However, because of the permit issue, KZN Wildlife officers instructed the driver to return the crocodiles to a farm near Pietermaritzburg. A count of the crocodiles still on the truck was carried out at the farm and it was determined that three were missing.

“As one was confirmed dead, that leaves two missing,” said trainee inspector Khumalo.

KZN Wildlife officers are in the area where the Nile crocodiles went missing and are attempting to locate them. The missing crocodiles are both 1-year-olds.