Crocodile at Omusati’s Etaka Dam to be relocated once captured – environment ministry

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism plans to capture and relocate a crocodile recently spotted at the Etaka Dam in the Omusati region.

The crocodile was first seen last Friday by children fishing in the area. Onesi constituency councillor Festus Petrus at the time warned community members to exercise caution when visiting the dam.

Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda says the ministry has taken numerous steps to capture and translocate the crocodile, including setting bait to trap and move it to Ruacana or the Kunene River.

“Unfortunately that did not work. This is a juvenile crocodile that is perhaps not exposed to a number of things, including meat, as it did not take the bait we put in the water,” he says.

Muyunda says this has complicated the ministry’s efforts, but it is committed to capturing and relocating the animal safely.

“Hunting the animal is not an option at this stage. Our main priority is to capture the crocodile and translocate it to where there are other crocodiles,” he says.

Etaka Dam, located in the Onesi area and stretching 14km from north to south, has long been a popular spot for leisure activities among locals.

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