Floods around the southern city of Maoming are causing a lake near a commercial crocodile farm to overflow.
Authorities in southern China have launched an operation to find more than 70 crocodiles that escaped when floods hit the region in recent days.
A typhoon caused persistent heavy rainfall in southern China last week. Floods around the city of Maoming in Guangdong province caused a lake at a commercial crocodile farm to overflow and more than 70 crocodiles to escape, local media reported.
According to reports, 69 adult crocodiles and six young crocodiles were hunting near Peng Cun village.
‘Crocodiles are still in the water’
A video published by the state-backed Beijing News showed emergency workers in red uniforms searching flooded fields in rescue boats.
Other images showed several 2-meter-long crocodiles lying on the road, their jaws tied with red tape.
“Crocodiles are still in the water and several government agencies are working to catch them,” state-affiliated China National Radio (CNR) reported, citing the local agriculture bureau.
“The specific situation is still being investigated,… [including] the specific number of crocodiles,” CNR said.
Crocodiles are bred in China for their skin and meat, which is sometimes used in traditional medicine.
The affected area is also home to a crocodile theme park and the country’s largest crocodile breeding center, according to CNR.