Chinese media reported on Tuesday that more than 70 crocodiles escaped after floods in Guangdong province caused a lake at a crocodile farm to overflow.
Authorities urged residents of Maoming city to stay indoors as the severity of the flooding made the search for the reptiles difficult.
What’s the latest we know?
“Crocodiles are still in the water and several government agencies are working to catch them,” state-run China National Radio (CNR) reported, citing the local agriculture bureau.
“The specific situation is still being investigated,” CNR said, adding that the exact number of animals still released was not known.
The Beijing News newspaper said emergency services were dispatched to locate the escaped crocodiles using sonar equipment.
Authorities said high water levels made the search difficult and urged residents to stay indoors.
Heavy rains flood southern China on the seventh day
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Footage showed emergency services in red uniforms searching flooded fields with lifeboats. Other images showed crocodiles that had already been captured with their mouths and limbs tied together.
Bred for skin and meat
Crocodiles are farmed in China for both their skin and their meat, which is sometimes used in traditional Chinese medicine.
At least 69 adult crocodiles and six younger ones were kept on a farm near the lake, which overflowed its banks, allowing the creatures to escape.
CNR also said that there was also a “crocodile theme park” in the affected area.
rc/jcg (dpa, AFP)