FIFTEEN crocodiles recently began life in the wild after they were moved from research pens at the St Lucia Crocodile Centre to Lake Bhangazi.
Aged between six and eight years old, the crocs, weighing about 100kg each, are fully independent and capable of living in the wild.
Lake Bhangazi was identified as the release site after an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife crocodile nest survey revealed no nests in the vicinity.
This suggests that breeding crocodiles have moved away from the Lake Bhangazi area.
It is the conservation authorities’ hope that this group of crocodiles will lead to a new population of young being born in the wild.
‘The St Lucia Crocodile Centre, managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife with Mpume Ngcobo as its officer-in-charge, is of immense importance to the iSimangaliso World Heritage Site as the only research and educational centre of its kind providing vital data to inform the conservation management of these apex predators in the park,’ said iSimangaliso media officer Debbie Cooper.
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