Authorities vow to protect locals from runaway crocodiles after Haikui floods

Authorities in Pengcun village in Maonan district in Maoming city of Guangdong province are considering shooting dead the crocodiles that have escaped from a nearby farm any time a local villager's safety is threatened by the escaped ferocious animals.

Now special personnel from multiple departments, including civil militias, have been sent to station at the site to ensure the safety of local residents, according to a report in Nanfang Plus on Tuesday.

The authorities' pledge came after more than 70 crocodiles, including 69 adult crocodiles and six hatchlings, were reported to have escaped on Monday after the farm was flooded in the wake of typhoon Haikui.

Local villagers said the adult crocodiles that have escaped each weigh at least 100 kilograms, and they might have escaped into local lakes, ponds and farmlands that have been flooded, posing a serious threat to public safety.

Militias and related personnel have already retrieved several escaped crocodiles, but it will be difficult to capture all the crocodiles due to the deep water in nearby lakes, ponds and fields, villagers said.

Maonan district bureau of emergency management and relevant departments have urged villagers to spend less time outside and immediately seek police help should they encounter any of the escaped crocodiles.

Fishing has been temporarily banned in local lakes, ponds and rivers from Tuesday, said the report.

No casualties have been reported so far, but the case has raised great concerns among locals, it added.