Uganda nabs man-eating crocodile

KAMPALA - A 5m-long crocodile said to have eaten more than 80 people has been caught alive in Uganda and transferred to a sanctuary, officials said.

The giant beast -- weighing about a tonne -- was captured by wildlife experts who spent three nights camping in the bush before locating their target.

Residents told local media the crocodile killed 83 people over the last two decades, mostly fishermen plying their trade on Lake Victoria off the shores of Bugiri district.

"Much as the residents of Luganga wanted to kill the reptile after our rangers had captured it, it is our responsibility to protect it by removing it from that area and keeping it in a safe place," Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokeswoman Lillian Nsubuga told Reuters.

The beast - reportedly more than 60 years old -- was trapped using ropes and transported by pick-up truck to Buwama crocodile farm west of the capital Kampala.

The state-owned New Vision newspaper said it "roared" as it was released into a holding ground at the farm on Monday.

Crocodiles sometimes attack and kill villagers collecting water or fishing in Lake Victoria, Africa's biggest lake.

Experts say most attacks are triggered as humans getting too close, and the crocodiles are protecting their territory.

- REUTERS