Around 75 crocodiles escaped from a breeding farm in Maoming, Guangdong province, China, during flooding caused by Typhoon Haikui. Chinese authorities have recaptured eight of the crocodiles so far, but dozens remain at large.
During a powerful storm called Typhoon Haikui, a flooding incident in Maoming, Guangdong Province, China led to the escape of around 75 crocodiles from a local breeding farm. This happened because the place where they lived, a big lake, became too full of water.
Authorities in China have managed to catch eight of the runaway crocodiles, but many more are still out there. People who live nearby are being told to stay inside their homes, especially far away from rivers and lakes.
These are freshwater reptiles that can grow to around 3m or nearly 10ft long. The average weight of the adult crocodiles that have been captured is about 75kg. And they measure more than 2m in length, the firefighter said. Maoming in Guangdong province is home to a number of Siamese crocodile farms. Moreover, they are bred for their skin as well as for meat.
Nobody knows exactly how long it will take to catch all of the escaped crocodiles. Officials are using special equipment that uses sound waves (called sonar) to find them, and they’re also setting up traps.
This situation with the crocodiles reminds us that it can be very risky to keep wild animals locked up. When big natural disasters happen, the places where these animals are kept can get overwhelmed, and the animals can get out. However, this can be really dangerous for the people nearby.
It’s very important to know that crocodiles are at the top of the food chain and can be very dangerous to humans. If you ever see a crocodile in the wild, don’t go near it! Instead, let the authorities know right away.