Police say they’ve arrested three males in South Africa for stealing a 2.5-meter (8-feet) lengthy Nile crocodile price about $1,300 from a farm within the North West province
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Three males have been arrested in South Africa for stealing a 2.5-meter (8-feet) lengthy Nile crocodile price about $1,300 from a farm within the North West province, police stated Monday.
The boys, who’re all aged between 20 and 35, are believed to have used a pick-up truck to take the animal from a crocodile farm within the Hartbeesfontein space about 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Johannesburg.
The crocodile was discovered tied up with rope and wire in an deserted farmhouse. The boys had lined it up with tree branches in an try to cover it, police stated. Police additionally discovered the pick-up truck. The boys have been arrested final week and are because of seem in courtroom on Monday.
Police are investigating how they managed to get the massive crocodile out of the farm, which had safe fencing, police spokeswoman Col. Adele Myburgh stated.
“How did they slip this animal out?” she stated. “It is not a child crocodile by any means.”
Myburgh stated the crocodile was badly dehydrated when it was discovered by a workforce of cops and animal conservation officers.
The crocodile has been “returned to its rightful proprietor,” police stated. They launched a photograph of it swimming in its pool on the farm.
Whereas South Africa has an issue with poaching, crocodiles will not be usually focused due to how harmful they’re.
Myburgh stated that the motive of the theft was nonetheless below investigation however crocodile physique components just like the pores and skin, nails and enamel do have worth and the boys might need been planning to kill the animal and promote its components.
___
Extra AP Africa information: https://apnews.com/hub/africa