Thousands of crocodiles on the loose after floods in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters)-some 15,000 crocodiles escaped from a reptile farm in South African waters this week and were disbanded in and around one of the largest rivers in southern Africa, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

"There was just a few crocodiles in the River Limpopo. There are now a lot, "Zane Lago, whose in-laws own the farm in the North of the country told Beeld newspaper.

Lago said that only half the crocodiles escaped from the Rakwena Crocodile Farm near the border with Botswana had recaptured, the report said.

Lago added that the farm gates were opened for fear that rushing flood water would crush the crocodiles.

Farm officials weren't immediately available for comment.

A crocodile farm was apparently captured about 120 kilometers (75 miles) away at a field of rugby school, he said.

Heavy rains and floods have at least 20 casualties in Mozambique and South Africa and led to the evacuation of thousands.

(Reported by Peroshni Govender. Editing by Jon Herskovitz and Paul Casciato)

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