Plans to relocate baby crocodiles from Albert Falls Dam
Plans are underway to relocate dozens of juvenile crocodiles from the Albert Falls Dam, just outside of Pietermaritzburg.
Nick Evans from the KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian & Reptile Conservation says the growing number of crocodiles have become a safety concern among fishermen and visitors to the dam.
Evans says though the rescue mission may take time, as dam levels have risen.
"We went to scout [the dam], but the water levels have risen so much so much. There's dense vegetation along the water edges. The crocodiles can be five to ten metres in that flooded vegetation. We only saw one - although we have received reports of many more. Speaking to Ezemvelo, the plan is that they will be taken to an educational facility," he said.
Conservationists from Ezemvelo, and Msinsi Nature Reserve will be overseeing the relocation.
Evans says - the largest of the crocodiles are believed to be just under two-metres long.
"The dam is full of fish but the crocodiles help control the numbers. But this is a manmade dam - so they wouldn't have naturally occurred there. At the moment, no one has seen a three-metre crocodile that could potentially be a problem."