Over 15,000 crocodiles escaped from a farm in South Africa after the owners opened the gates to prevent a flood from a nearby river.
The owner of the Rakwena Crocodile Farm was forced to open the gates on Sunday as the Limpopo river rose during a storm. Mass flooding has killed at least 10 people in the Limpopo province so far. When the gates were opened, about 15,000 crocodiles escaped, The Telegraph reports.
Many of the wild animals were captured but more than half of them are still free in areas near and far. And even into the river itself. One was found at a rugby field nearly 75 miles away.
"There used to be only a few crocodiles in the Limpopo River," Zane Langman, the son-in-law of Johan Boshoff, who owns Rakwena told The Telegraph. "Now there are a lot."
"We've been recapturing them as and when the local farmers phone us to tell us that there are crocodiles on their property," Langman continued.
Langnam had to take a boat to rescue a friend during the flooding. When he reached his friend's house, he discovered some of the crocodiles
"When we reached them, the crocodiles were swimming around them. Praise the Lord, they were all alive," Langnam said, according to the BBC.
Flooding has affected Limpopo and Mozambique. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes and the South African Air Force is being used to rescue people from the flooding in remote areas.
The crocodiles are continuously being captured, particularly at night, when it is easier to see their eyes which shine in the dark. Experts warn to stay indoors and avoid the animals.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
