Officials work on removing crocodile from Etaka dam

Onesi Constituency councillor Festus Petrus has warned residents of Onesi and surrounding areas to avoid fishing in the Etaka dam while officials work to remove a crocodile spotted in the area.The dam, located in the Onesi area of the Omusati Region, stretches 14 kilometers from north to south.Petrus told the Namibian Sun yesterday that the crocodile’s presence poses a risk to both humans and livestock. He urged residents to refrain from fishing at the dam.The crocodile was first spotted on 3 January 2025 in the afternoon by local residents who were fishing at the time.“I was also in the area, so they rushed to inform me about it, and I went to confirm. I then took a video to alert the public and informed officials from the ministry of environment,” Petrus said.He added that reports of a crocodile in the dam date back to 2003/2004, but these claims were dismissed at the time due to lack of evidence.On Sunday, Petrus visited the dam with officials, and the crocodile was spotted again, although it had moved further from its initial location.“When the officials measured it, they estimated it to be about 1.6 meters long. A larger crocodile can grow up to 5 meters. However, even a smaller crocodile is dangerous. We are working with officials from the police, the ministry of environment, and the Omusati regional council, and we are waiting for a boat and a net to remove it,” he said.Petrus also cautioned that there may be more crocodiles in the dam and urged residents to remain vigilant as the ministry continues monitoring the situation.Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the ministry of environment, confirmed yesterday that the ministry is assessing the situation to determine the appropriate action.“Our options include removing the crocodile, provided circumstances and resources permit. We caution residents to exercise caution around the crocodile and urge members of the public not to disturb or harm it,” Muyunda said.

Officials work on removing crocodile from Etaka dam

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Officials work on removing crocodile from Etaka dam

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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