IAFRICA.COM (S Africa) 27 November 06 Two-ton KZN croc email a hoax
Durban (Sapa): Emails claiming that an 80-year-old crocodile had been killed and was on display at Ushaka Marine World in KwaZulu-Natal were a hoax, a conservation organisation said on Monday.
"I got this email three months ago and we don't have any crocodile," said Ann Kunz, spokesperson for Sea World — a division of Ushaka Marine World.
The hoax email, complete with pictures of a captured crocodile, said the animal was shot dead by the army before being frozen for display at Ushaka Marine World.
The crocodile was described as seven metres long and over two tons in weight. It said to be found in Phoenix, north of Durban, and at 80 years old was "too old" to catch animals and was therefore after humans.
"The copy I got said that the crocodile was after children."
Kunz said the species of crocodile shown in the photographs could not be found in Southern Africa.
"From what we can see from its markings, it seems like its from the central African region," she said.
Two-ton KZN croc email a hoax