The Mozambican authorities killed 13 crocodiles last year in an effort to stop what they termed "animal-human conflict".
Radio Mozambique said Sunday that the operation follows the killing of
18 people by crocodiles in the northwestern province of Tete, at the end
of last year.
The victims died in Mutarara, Cahora Bassa, Zumbo, Magie and Moatize, when they were fetching water in the region's rivers.
The operation also includes the collection of crocodile eggs along the
river banks of Tete, including the Zambezi River, where there have been
the most reported deaths.
In Matundo, the authorities are building a fence, using a shark-net,
where there have been many reported cases of animal-human conflict.
In Tete province alone, more than 40 people were killed, not only by
crocodiles, also by lions, elephants and leopards, according to the
authorities.
The operation to hunt the killers is being carried out by the Wild Life Department of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Mozambican government said that it is concerned about the
phenomenon, which has been on the rise over the past several years.
The central province of Zambezia and the northern provinces of Cabo
Delgado and Niassa also experienced deaths caused by wild animals.
