Villagers told to kill escaped crocodiles in Hainan

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-10-30 11:07

Eighteen of 46 crocodiles, which escaped from a breeding farm in Changfeng Town of south China’s Hainan province on October 21, are still at large, hinews.cn attached to Hainan Daily Corporation reported Thursday.

The farm said only eight crocodiles escaped at first, but villagers in the area doubted the figure.

After a thorough investigation initiated by the local government, it was discovered that 46 crocodiles had escaped, 20 of which had already been caught by the farm and eight of which had been caught or killed by villagers.

People can get a reward of 200 yuan ($29) if they capture a crocodile, and villagers are also encouraged to kill the deadly animal without being prosecuted, according to a notice published by the government.

Villagers told to kill escaped crocodiles in Hainan

Crocodiles are seen in a breeding farm in Changfeng Town of south China’s Hainan province.[hinews.cn]