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Rob Griffith/AP/Press Association Images

Thousands of crocodiles on the loose after escape from SA farm

Nearby residents have been advised to stay indoors (and away from the crocs).

HEAVY RAINS AND flooding usually bring problems but a farm in South Africa has been hit particularly hard as all of its inmates escaped as a result.

The 15,000 crocodiles kept at Rakwena Crocodile Farm in the north of the country were released, the local daily Beeld newspaper reports.

The farm’s owners were forced to let the predators roam free as they had to open the gates to prevent a storm surge.

According to News24,  a couple of thousand have since been recaptured, but at least half remain on the loose, scattered far and wide.

One turned up on a school rugby pitch about 120 kilometres away.

The surrounding province of Limpopo has been hit by serious floods, which have killed 10 people and made many more homeless.

The floods have also savaged neighbouring Mozambique, where tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes.

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    Mute zebedee
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    Jan 24th 2013, 11:29 AM

    And we rant on about an increase in slugs because of the rain!

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    Mute Fukface
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    Jan 24th 2013, 12:24 PM

    One time I got cornered by a group of slugs in my kitchen. It was tense and scary as they slowly closed in on me. Fearing for my own safety I dove to the side and grabbed a meat cleaver. They turned and chased me but I managed to keep my wits and methodically diced them up. Then I swept them up into a jar and poured salt on their diced carcasses just in case they turned into zombie slugs.

    So yeah, be careful. Slugs can sneak up on you.

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    Mute Jason Power
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    Jan 24th 2013, 11:03 AM

    Sounds like a job for Mick “Crocodile” Dundee

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    Mute Fran Rooney
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    Jan 24th 2013, 12:31 PM

    “Look Mummy, someone left a Lacoste sleeping bag on the lawn”

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    Mute Ciaran De Bhal
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    Jan 24th 2013, 11:43 AM

    I’ll have a crocodile sandwich please, and make it snappy !!

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    Mute Darren Callaghan
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    Jan 24th 2013, 11:50 AM

    I see some expensive handbags and shoes being sold in markets in area very soon !

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    Mute Felim Borland
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    Jan 24th 2013, 5:04 PM

    RTÉ say officials from the farm were not available for comment. Well I’d say they’re busy catching 15,000 crocodiles!

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    Mute Steven_Reagan
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    Jan 24th 2013, 1:30 PM

    Wow. I wonder if they’ll start to breed. You can hardly catch all that many again, when they are up 120k away at this stage.

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    Mute Jimmy Casey
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    Jan 24th 2013, 12:27 PM

    Get these mother-ucking crocodiles off my mother-ucking plane.

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Jan 24th 2013, 11:48 AM

    Help my shoes are biting me.

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    Mute Eoin cusack
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    Jan 24th 2013, 9:01 PM

    Wel I hope the crocs hurt no one but I’m Happy for them that there free. Poor things been cooped up. They have another chance at freedom

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    Mute Brian Khumalo
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    Jan 24th 2013, 4:04 PM

    Clearly this is a serious situation, not everyone in that part of the country will have access to news so they’ll just be in oblivion of the death surrounding them. That’s quite a number to reign in again, not sure they’ll get them all back.

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    Mute Bob Thebuildr
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    Jan 24th 2013, 12:55 PM

    Rifles v Sticks. Go ahead croc Make my day!

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    Mute Eoin O'Connor
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    Jan 24th 2013, 4:44 PM

    Why would anybody have 15000 alligators?

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    Mute Daffy TheBear
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    Jan 24th 2013, 6:08 PM

    crocs. different.. meat, skin..

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 24th 2013, 11:09 PM

    Different animal, they use the meat and leather. Same as a farmer having cows.

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