DAILY VISION (Kampala, Uganda) 21 August 10 Mayuge man-eater crocodile captured (Gerald Tenywa)

The capture of one of the largest crocodiles estimated to weigh about one tonne last Friday sent residents at Namoni landing site in Mayuge District into wild cheers.

Describing the crocodile as a man eater, they danced and ululated after it was captured by rangers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

Namoni residents said the giant reptile had mauled about 10 people and more than 100 have lost their lives following its attacks. Most of the victims were reportedly fishermen using canoes and others were part of the lakeside communities that either collect water from the lake or bathe at the shores.

“This is the second largest crocodile we have captured in Lake Victoria,” said Peter Ogwang, a ranger in charge of problem animals at UWA based in Kampala.

“We captured him at about 6:00am with the help of the local people who assisted to pull him out of the water and load him onto the vehicle.”

The man eater attracted crowds as the heavy laden Toyota-land cruiser pick-up truck groaned in the traffic jam between Mukono and Kampala on its way to Karuma Wildlife Reserve in northern Uganda, its new home.

“I had never seen a live crocodile in my life; I rushed to have a look at the massive reptile,” said Peter Kayongo, a hairdresser in Bweyogerere. “It had filled the back of the truck and its tail had to be folded for it to fit properly.”

Two weeks ago, UWA captured a crocodile in the same area. The capture of the man eater on Friday brings to 23, the number of crocodiles UWA’s capture team has rescued from different parts of the country.

UWA relocated them to Karuma wildlife reserve. Their new home is the River Nile, where human habitation is about 30 kilometres away.

But wildlife experts said crocodiles patronise about two kilometres, meaning that they can still be a danger to the human population settled outside the wildlife reserve.
Mayuge man-eater crocodile captured

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