Uganda Nabs 16-Foot-Long, Man-Eating Croc

Yahoo! News (Reuters) ^ | 3/8/2005

[Pyro7480]

Uganda Nabs 16-Foot-Long, Man-Eating Croc

KAMPALA, Uganda (Reuters) - A 5-meter-long (16 ft) crocodile said to have eaten more than 80 people has been caught alive in Uganda and transferred to a sanctuary, officials said Tuesday.

The giant beast -- weighing about a ton-- was captured by wildlife experts who spent three nights camping in the bush before locating their target.

Residents told local media the crocodile killed 83 people over the last two decades, mostly fishermen plying their trade on Lake Victoria off the shores of Bugiri district.

"Much as the residents of Luganga wanted to kill the reptile after our rangers had captured it, it is our responsibility to protect it by removing it from that area and keeping it in a safe place," Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokeswoman Lillian Nsubuga told Reuters.

The beast - reportedly more than 60 years old -- was trapped using ropes and transported by pick-up truck to Buwama crocodile farm west of the capital Kampala.

The state-owned New Vision newspaper said it "roared" as it was released into a holding ground at the farm Monday.

Crocodiles sometimes attack and kill villagers collecting water or fishing in Lake Victoria, Africa's biggest lake.

Experts say most attacks are triggered as humans getting too close, and the crocodiles are protecting their territory.

[Pyro7480]

Officials from the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) unload a five-meter-long, and more than 60 year-old crocodile at farm in Buwama, 45 miles from the capital Kampala, March 8, 2005. The 16-foot crocodile is said to have eaten more than 83 people over the last two decades, mostly fishermen and was caught alive in Uganda and transferred to a sanctuary, officials said on Tuesday. The giant beast, weighing about a ton, was captured by wildlife experts who spent three nights camping in the bush before locating their target. (UGANDA OUT) REUTERS/Str

CRIKEY!

[LiveBait]

Wow. That thing is a monster!

[Mad Mammoth]

Well this is a disappointment. I was hoping this was the early report of the death of Robert Mugabe.

[Conspiracy Guy]

A sixteen foot man can eat what he wants.

[Darkwolf377]

I didn't know Maureen Dowd was that tall.

[riverrunner]

Most of the time it the cro wanting somthing to eat instead of just protecting its territory. The envo wakos just do not want to admit that we are just meat.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

KAMPALA, Uganda (Reuters) - A 5-meter-long (16 ft) crocodile said to have eaten more than 80 people has been caught alive in Uganda and transferred to a sanctuary, officials said Tuesday.

There, in the first sentence, is what is wrong with the world. A croc kills 80 people, and the poor thing is put in a sanctuary. Kill the beast.

[Lucky Dog]

Where's PETA? I know what we can feed the old boy while he'sin captivity.

[Mears]

The giant beast -- weighing about a ton-- was captured by wildlife experts who spent three nights camping in the bush before locating their target.

---

God,what a loooong three nights that must have been!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Boy did I misread that headline! ; ) Kill the croc. That is a house full of shoes, purses, belts, suitcases, jackets, etc....

[Blzbba]

"A croc kills 80 people, and the poor thing is put in a sanctuary. Kill the beast."


Why did the 70+ people continue fishing in waters where the first 10 people had been eaten? That's the croc's home and they deserved what they got.

I say let the croc go - he's a good population controller.

[ambrose]

Why? Do you think it should be "punished? for its actions?

[billorites]

[Rebelbase]

*****Grapic photo. *****(not this croc.)

[Yossarian]

I don't think they've managed to catch Gustave, a 9- to 12-meter long, 300-man killer working the shoreline of Lake Tanganyika in Burundi...

So far, Gustave's been able to shake off human attacks including machine gun fire. Of course, the same "animal lovers" are aghast at the idea of killing such a monster.

Now who would want to hurt a little cutie pie like this?

[LibWhacker]

The state-owned New Vision newspaper said it "roared" as it was released into a holding ground at the farm Monday.

Don't blame him. I'd be upset, too, if an order of baby back ribs jumped up off my plate and captured me.

[Mike Darancette]

Probably grew large on the bodies dumped into the Nile by Amin's thugs.

[sgtbono2002]

Daddy needs a new pair of shoes.

[TChris]

The giant beast -- weighing about a ton-- was captured by wildlife experts who spent three nights camping in the bush before locating their target.

Brave men, they.

[rebel_yell2]

9-12 meters is 27 - 36 feet long! Now that is a big crock. Many that size are found in the Queensland area of Australia, I believe.

16 feet? a mere salty.