Killer croc shot dead

Herald Reporter February 9, 2009

IN a bizarre incident, rangers from the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority recently killed a crocodile at Wooler Farm Dam that had been jealously guarding the corpse of a 50-year-old Glendale man it had attacked and killed.

Police failed to retrieve Peter Chipokosa’s body, which was floating in the dam as the reptile was closely monitoring its prey, forcing them to seek the intervention of the wildlife authority.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Nicisson Kasoso confirmed the incident, saying reports of crocodile attacks were on the increase in the district.

He said after killing the crocodile, it was discovered that the reptile had already swallowed its victim’s lower leg.

Insp Kasoso said the incident occurred in the early hours of January 23 when Chipokosa left home to take a bath in the dam.

Upon wading into the dam, said Insp Kasoso, he was attacked and killed before the crocodile consumed one of his legs and started guarding the corpse, perhaps so that it could eat the rest of the body later.

Four days later, a boy who was fishing at the dam noticed a body floating in the water and a crocodile lurking nearby. He alerted other villagers, including the deceased relatives, who identified the body.
The matter was reported to Glendale Police Station who in turn called in Parks authorities when they failed to retrieve the body because of the presence of the crocodile.Herald Reporter