Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) are struggling to locate crocodiles in Etaka Dam following a recent attack on a man.
The officials cited the reservoir’s size and thick vegetation as major obstacles.
Omusati regional governor Erginus Endjala said the dam, which stretches over 13 kilometres, is difficult to search due to heavy shrubbery in the water.
“The Ministry of Environment is trying to locate the crocodiles, but identifying their exact location is very difficult because the reservoir stretches over 13km and has a lot of shrubs in the water. At this point, all we can do is alert residents and urge them to notify officials if they spot any crocodiles. Otherwise, there are no other measures we can take for now,” Endjala said.
His comments come after a crocodile was euthanized by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism on Saturday following an attack on a man at the dam.
Ministry spokesperson Ndeshipanda Hamunyela confirmed the incident, stating that a man from Epalela village in Onesi constituency was bitten on the right arm after following the reptile into the water.
According to Hamunyela, preliminary investigations revealed that the crocodile had been struck by a vehicle earlier and was subsequently surrounded by a crowd that touched it, took photos, and recorded videos.
“This behaviour is not acceptable and is against the policy on human-wildlife conflict management. The crocodile then retreated into the water, and one of the community members followed it, leading to the attack,” she said.
She urged the public to avoid approaching or touching wild animals, particularly predators.
“If left undisturbed, the crocodile, even after the vehicle collision, would likely not have posed an immediate threat to the public,” she said, adding that residents should contact authorities instead of attempting to handle wildlife incidents on their own.
Hamunyela also cautioned that negligence in dealing with wild animals could affect compensation claims under the human-wildlife conflict self-reliance scheme.
Endjala confirmed that three crocodiles have been captured and euthanised since November, but more are suspected to be in the dam. He urged residents to be cautious, especially when fishing, swimming, or collecting water.
Omusati regional police commander Ishmael Basson said the police were not involved in handling the incident, as it was managed solely by the Ministry of Environment. However, he said the police are working with the ministry to address potential wildlife threats in the region.
“The police are coordinating with the Ministry of Environment to monitor and respond to any potential threats. We advise residents to report sightings of wild animals rather than attempting to deal with them on their own,” Basson said.
The presence of crocodiles in northern water bodies remains a concern, with several cases reported in recent years.
In January, a crocodile was spotted at Oshihau village and has yet to be captured.
