Is Uganda's notorious crocodile the world's largest?
Apr 01, 2014
A killer crocodile which is said to have eaten four people in Jinja and Mayuge has been captured. Is it the world''s largets?
By Donald Kiirya
A killer crocodile which is said to have eaten four people in Jinja and Mayuge districts on the shores of Lake Victoria was captured by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials after a four-day hunt in Kakira sub-county, Jinja.
According to Sulani Tumanya, a UWA official, the approximately 80 year old reptile weighs about 1000 kilogrammes (1 tonne). Only 47 Kgs less than the former world’s heaviest crocodile known as Lolong.
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UWA staff and residents looking for the killer crocodile along the shores of Lake Victoria
Photo by Donald Kiirya
Lolong was a 21ft, one-tonne saltwater crocodile from Philippines. It died on February 10, 2013 at the age of 50.
“Residents appealed to UWA to hunt the crocodile following the death of a resident from Kakira town council in Jinja district,” Tumanya said.
He said the reptile which they trapped with meat on a hook four days ago after an operation will be transferred to Murchison falls national park.
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The crocodile being loaded on a UWA truck to its destination. Photo by Donald Kiirya
John Kamawu, the Kakira town council L.C III chairperson said the reptile recently mauled one Bosco Nyansi, adding that residents managed to recover only his clothes, which were found floating on water.
Kamawu said Nyansi who was a resident of Kinyoro-Kiteso village in Kakira town council had gone fishing along the shores of Lake Victoria. He left a widow and two children.
He said fishermen had been facing difficulties on Lake Victoria fearing to be eaten, but now that the reptile has been captured, residents would resume their fishing activities.
Residents said the man eater had killed people from various landing sites which include Wairaka, Rwabitooke, Masese and Wanyange in Jinja district, and Ntinkalu in Mayuge.
It also maimed several fishermen at various landing sites.
Over 100 residents from nearby landing sites gathered at Kakira landing site to watch the man eater being brought to the shores by UWA officials.
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UWA staff pulling the crocodile out of waters of Lake Victoria after trapping it
They were seen peddling their boats from nearby landing sites to come and have a look at the reptile.
Others felt its body as they kept on touching it endlessly while others looked surprised about its huge size.
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The crocodile being loaded on a UWA truck to its destination. Photo by Donald Kiirya