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Cruelty to crocodiles
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
June 30, 2007

Animals suffer when inexperienced and unqualified people try to make a living out of breeding them and crocodiles are no exception.

On the 1st June 2007, an inspection of Squatozi Farm in Trelawny , owned by Mr Cletos Nyachowe was carried out to check on the welfare of the crocodiles.

950 hatchlings were taken from Binga to Squatozi Farm at the end of 2006. No food had been fed to the crocodile since the 15th March 2007 and over 150 hatchings died of starvation,

On the 3rd June 2007, two days after the inspection, the owner brought out 200kg of mincemeat for the crocodiles - the first time they had been fed in 2 months.

Upon inspection, it was found that the ponds were inadequate for the animals. At least 10 ponds had no water in them and the remaining ponds had water that was green with algae. No protection from the elements was provided for the baby crocs and there were no signs of faeces in any of the ponds. The water pump was not working and the reservoir had no water.

Mr Nyachowe, the owner of the crocodile farm lives in Harare and leaves the management of the crocodiles up to his workers who have had no training in crocodile management. He very seldom visits his farm to monitor the crocodiles. The workers saw him in December 2006 and the next time they saw him was in June 2007.

We would like to thank National Parks and Wildlife Management for authorizing the removal of 753 crocodiles from the farm, 10 of which had to be euthanased due to deformities, probably caused by malnutrition. The remainder were released into Ngezi Dam. National Parks has also refused to renew Mr Nyachowe's breeders' permit. He is now facing prosecution on charges of cruelty to animals.

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