Crocodiles kill 14 in Mozambique in less than a month

Dec 4, 2007, 10:03 GMT

Johannesburg - Authorities in Mozambique's central Zambezia province have announced the killing of 14 people in less than a month by crocodiles, the South African press agency SAPA reported Tuesday.

The daily Noticias newspaper said that the victims were fishermen going about their daily chores or people who were attacked they went to fetch water in the Zambezi River at the Chinde administrative post.

Carvalho Muaria, Zambezia provincial governor, was quoted by the paper as telling Agriculture Ministry officials to work with the army to kill the crocodiles.

He said the action could result in the reduction in animal-human conflict, that tends to increase during the rainy season which started in October.

In June, authorities said more than 30 people were killed country- wide by wild animals, which included crocodiles, elephants,and lions.

In October, authorities of Chemba district in the Mozambican central province of Sofala said they had collected more than 13,000 crocodile eggs in 2007 alone, as a way of combating attacks.

During the same campaign, 17 crocodiles, two hippopotamuses and an elephant were killed after the animals tried to attack brigades patrolling the area.

The government has also authorised the army to shoot problem animals.