A 31-year-old man of Senonnori ward in Maun is reported to have survived a crocodile attack in Matlapana on the Thamalakane river while fishing with a friend.
According to Assistant Superintendent Michael Bagai of Maun Police Station, the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon along the Thamalakane River and was reported by the victim’s 40-year-old friend also from Senonnori ward who went fishing with him.
Bagai revealed that the victim had just thrown in his fishing line when a crocodile attacked him, and tried pulling into the water. However his friend was able to pull him out and they managed to escape. The victim was rushed to Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries on his thighs.
Superintendent Bagai has since encouraged the public to take necessary precaution to avoid getting attacked. He advised against swimming in areas with known crocodile populations, adding that people should also avoid walking alone or go fishing alone in areas with known crocodile presence, especially at night.
Crocodile attacks in Botswana pose a significant risk to both human life and livestock, particularly in rural communities where people frequently interact with water bodies. The ongoing Wilderness Botswana and Okavango Crocodile Monitoring Program (OCMP) crocodile safety awareness campaign, has highlighted that each year, the country records several fatalities and considerable livestock losses due to crocodile attacks. These incidents are said to be prevalent in areas where communities depend on rivers and lagoons for water, fishing, and transportation.
To combat this growing concern, Wilderness Botswana partnered with the (OCMP) to launch a crucial awareness campaign. This initiative aimed to educate communities on the dangers posed by crocodiles and provide lifesaving knowledge on how to prevent attacks. A key component of the campaign includes the distribution of informative Crocodile Awareness posters designed by OCMP.
To avoid getting attacked, some of the critical safety tips include not going to the river alone. It is also advised to avoid hanging legs or arms over the sides of boats or mokoro, staying away from the water’s edge as a crocodile can jump almost its body-length. The public is also encouraged to avoid areas cattle or goats drink as crocodiles often wait at those areas.
