Dozens of crocodiles still at large in Ca Mau
Sunday, October 14, 2012, 12:33 GMT+7
As of 10pm on Saturday, 47 crocodiles were captured after they escaped from a farm in the southernmost province of Ca Mau Oct. 13 but more than 50 crocs are still believed to be at large.
Past reports said on Thursday evening, heavy rains caused the fence surrounding a crocodile farm to collapse, leading to the escape of more than 100 crocodiles weighing from 40kg to 80kg.
The farm belongs to Ngo Van Nga, director of Quoc Viet Aquatic Export and Processing Company based in Dinh Binh commune.
The actual number of escaped crocodiles remains unknown, confirmed Lieutenant colonel Phan Hoai Nam, vice police chief in Binh Dinh commune.
Phan Hung Dung, a local official, told Tuoi Tre Newspaper that 30 crocs have been caught by a group of skilled hunters from neighboring province Bac Lieu while locals have helped capture 17.
The hunters are hunting down for the remaining reptiles thought to have hidden in ditches and ponds around the farm, he added.
“It was unclear that any crocs have managed to crawl into the river or canal. The farm is only separated from Ca Mau – Bac Lieu canal by a highway,” Tu Diem, a local resident, worried.
On Saturday morning, local residents captured a 60kg croc. Just hours before, a group of eight young men found a large crocodile crawling along the edge of the National Highway 1A in Dinh Binh commune towards a river and subdued the animal after a ‘long hour battle’ using fishing nets and ropes.
Many teachers and parents have voiced concerns that students might be attacked by the crocs since the farm where crocs escaped is located very close to primary school Kim Dong.
Behind the school is a 1.000m2 fish pond that is home to around 5,000 catfish weighing from 1.5 to 3 kg.
Nguyen Chi Cuong, the school’s security guard, told Tuoi Tre that he discovered 20 crocs floating in the pond from the afternoon of Oct. 12to the morning of Oct. 13.
Since Ca Mau is crisscrossed with a network of canals and rivers, crocs on the loose are really a big threat to children, particularly those who enjoy swimming in river.
