A crocodile spotted in the Old Willow area of the Vaal River has so far evaded attempts to capture and relocate it.
Image used for illustrative purposes/
Daniel Pelaez Duque/Unsplash
Two cages fitted with CCTV cameras and remote notification technology have been placed near the river as part of the ongoing operation. The crocodile was first reported in the area earlier this month after a resident spotted it, with photographs suggesting the animal is between 2.5m and 3m long.
The capture operation is being led by Crocodile VDM, a Pongola-based organisation headed by Charles van der Merwe and Robert Slaughter, in collaboration with the SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services.
Slaughter said the crocodile appears to be slender-snouted, although its presence in the Vaal River has raised questions about where it came from.
Possible escaped pet
According to Slaughter, the team does not believe the crocodile is a wild animal because the area is outside the species’ natural range.
The organisation suspects it may have been kept as a pet or escaped from captivity, a sanctuary or a crocodile farm.
The team placed two cages near the river on 16 August, using chicken as bait. Both cages are fitted with CCTV cameras and remote alerts linked to van der Merwe’s phone, allowing the team to monitor activity around the traps remotely.
Despite the operation, the crocodile has yet to take the bait.
Community urged to stay away
The team plans to return to the river to continue searching for the crocodile and capture it safely.
Residents are being urged to avoid the water and stay away from the cages while the operation is under way. Anyone who spots the crocodile is encouraged to report the sighting immediately to the capture team.
The information in this report was first published by Caxton Network News (Citizen). Read the original report on The Citizen
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