Snapped ... Durban's croc
22 December 2009, 14:43
By Arthi Sanpath
Durban canoeists spotted a 2-metre crocodile near the Connaught interchange, about 4km from the mouth of the Umgeni River.
Willem Deyzel, of Morningside, said he was on a training exercise on Sunday from Inanda Dam heading towards Durban with a group of paddlers from the Kingfisher Canoe Club when they spotted the crocodile.
"It was upstream from the mouth of the lagoon, under the foot bridge opposite Springfield Park," he said.
Taking out his cellphone, Deyzel and the group paddled to within about 2m of the crocodile and took photographs of it.
"We got very close, and he was not aggressive at all. He just went into the water and watched us," Deyzel said.
But, Deyzel said, people were swimming in the river about 50m from where the crocodile was spotted, but the swimmers were oblivious to the creature.
"We always heard stories of crocodiles, but I have never come across one in my 34 years of canoeing," he said.
Deyzel said he didn't believe canoeists had anything to fear.
Numerous paddlers, preparing for the Dusi Canoe Marathon next month have informed race organisers that they had seen an "old looking" crocodile with a knobbly snout.
Deyzel said the crocodile he spotted matched this description.
Ray de Vries, spokesperson for the Dusi, said there had been a number of sightings over the past two months further up the river, but few photos to back up the claims.
Now, however, wildlife authorities will be called in to discuss how to handle the crocodile situation.
"Just four weeks ago a farmer a few hundred metres up river of the N2 reported that he was nearly attacked," De Vries said.
Farmer Nivash Dhookran, 37, who lives in Reservoir Hills, said he was nearly taken by a crocodile. "I was picking herbs and the next thing I saw this thing open its mouth to bite me. I ran like hell and called people who confirmed that it was a crocodile and we managed to take a picture with a cellphone."
Dhookran has lived in the area for 30 years and had never seen a crocodile there before. His picture showed the tail of the crocodile as it retreated.
Residents say the reptile has made random appearances, which they noticed after a number of Egyptian geese had disappeared from the river, and "the carp were going crazy in the water".
De Vries said the organisers were requesting all paddlers leave the reptile alone if they came across it, and to report any sightings.
"We will report it to the authorities who will hopefully catch it before the event in 29 days' time," De Vries said.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife would be called in, said De Vries, and if captured it would be given to a crocodile farm.
"It appears to be a well-fed crocodile and I am concerned about the birdlife in the Umgeni area, which is very diverse," De Vries said.
He said the recent rains may have played a part in crocodiles being washed down from the upper Umgeni and Albert Falls Dam areas.
Durban canoeists spotted a 2-metre crocodile near the Connaught interchange, about 4km from the mouth of the Umgeni River.
Willem Deyzel, of Morningside, said he was on a training exercise on Sunday from Inanda Dam heading towards Durban with a group of paddlers from the Kingfisher Canoe Club when they spotted the crocodile.
"It was upstream from the mouth of the lagoon, under the foot bridge opposite Springfield Park," he said.
Taking out his cellphone, Deyzel and the group paddled to within about 2m of the crocodile and took photographs of it.
"We got very close, and he was not aggressive at all. He just went into the water and watched us," Deyzel said.
But, Deyzel said, people were swimming in the river about 50m from where the crocodile was spotted, but the swimmers were oblivious to the creature.
"We always heard stories of crocodiles, but I have never come across one in my 34 years of canoeing," he said.
Deyzel said he didn't believe canoeists had anything to fear.
Numerous paddlers, preparing for the Dusi Canoe Marathon next month have informed race organisers that they had seen an "old looking" crocodile with a knobbly snout.
Deyzel said the crocodile he spotted matched this description.
Ray de Vries, spokesperson for the Dusi, said there had been a number of sightings over the past two months further up the river, but few photos to back up the claims.
Now, however, wildlife authorities will be called in to discuss how to handle the crocodile situation.
"Just four weeks ago a farmer a few hundred metres up river of the N2 reported that he was nearly attacked," De Vries said.
Farmer Nivash Dhookran, 37, who lives in Reservoir Hills, said he was nearly taken by a crocodile. "I was picking herbs and the next thing I saw this thing open its mouth to bite me. I ran like hell and called people who confirmed that it was a crocodile and we managed to take a picture with a cellphone."
Dhookran has lived in the area for 30 years and had never seen a crocodile there before. His picture showed the tail of the crocodile as it retreated.
Residents say the reptile has made random appearances, which they noticed after a number of Egyptian geese had disappeared from the river, and "the carp were going crazy in the water".
De Vries said the organisers were requesting all paddlers leave the reptile alone if they came across it, and to report any sightings.
"We will report it to the authorities who will hopefully catch it before the event in 29 days' time," De Vries said.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife would be called in, said De Vries, and if captured it would be given to a crocodile farm.
"It appears to be a well-fed crocodile and I am concerned about the birdlife in the Umgeni area, which is very diverse," De Vries said.
He said the recent rains may have played a part in crocodiles being washed down from the upper Umgeni and Albert Falls Dam areas.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Daily News on December 22, 2009
Durban
