There’s a 3m crocodile in the Vaal River – And nobody knows how it got there

A roughly 3m-long crocodile is currently being hunted in the Vaal River after residents spotted the reptile in the Old Willow area, with experts now using specialised traps and cameras in an attempt to safely capture and relocate it.

The crocodile was first reported earlier this month and has so far managed to evade efforts to catch it.

Experts believe the animal could be a West African slender-snouted crocodile, although its exact species has not yet been confirmed.

The discovery has sparked concern among residents, particularly those who regularly use the river for swimming, fishing and water sports.

Specialised crocodile traps deployed

According to The Citizen, crocodile experts from Crocodile VDM, based in Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal, are working with the SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services to find the animal.

The team, led by Charles van der Merwe and Robert Slaughter, has deployed two specialised cages near the river.

The traps were fitted with CCTV cameras and remote notification technology, allowing the team to monitor them remotely.

When movement is detected around a cage, an alert is sent directly to van der Merwe’s phone so that the camera footage can be checked.

Chicken has also been placed inside the cages as bait.

Slaughter said the crocodile was estimated to be between 2.5m and 3m long, based on photographs sent to the team by a resident who spotted it.

How did it get into the Vaal River?

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the crocodile is where it came from.

Experts do not believe it is likely to be a wild animal that naturally migrated into the area, given that the Vaal River is far from the known natural range of the slender-snouted crocodile.

The leading theories are that it could have been kept as a pet, escaped from captivity, or come from a sanctuary or crocodile farm.

There is also speculation that the animal could have entered the river during flooding, although it is not known how long it has been living in the area.

Experts have estimated that the crocodile could be around 15 years old, but its age and how long it has been in the river cannot be confirmed.

The sighting has already prompted discussions between the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the SAPS Water Wing.

Specialists have pointed out that locating and capturing a crocodile in a river as large as the Vaal is particularly challenging. The Vaal River stretches for roughly 1 200km, providing plenty of places for a reptile to disappear from view.

The involvement of van der Merwe and his team is expected to improve the chances of capturing the crocodile safely.

The operation aims to capture and relocate the animal rather than kill it.

Residents warned to stay out of the water

While slender-snouted crocodiles are generally considered shy and are primarily fish-eaters, experts say residents should not take any chances while the animal remains at large.

People in the area are being urged not to swim, water-ski or enter the Vaal River until the crocodile has been captured and relocated.

Residents have also been asked to stay away from the traps.

Anyone who spots the crocodile should not approach it and should report the sighting to the capture team or authorities immediately.