By Rex Mphisa
POLICE at Beitbridge have recovered the leg of an adult human being seen being devoured by crocodiles a few metres from the two bridges linking Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Superintendent Philisani Ndebele confirmed the development and said the recovered remains had been taken to Beitbridge Hospital pending further investigations.
“The correct position is that crocodiles were seen eating human remains of an unknown adult. Only the left leg from the whole body was recovered from the river bank and it was conveyed to the hospital mortuary awaiting further investigations,” Ndebele told Ziyah News Network.
Some witnesses said police were alerted after crocodiles were seen feasting on the human body.
The Limpopo River, also known as Crocodile River, is infested by the man-eating reptiles naturalists say are dominant in the one of Africa’s largest rivers.
Rising from close to Johannesburg, precisely about 200 kilometres, the Limpopo flows north first creating the border between Botswana and South Africa before turning east.
On its eastern course the river also called Vhembe, forms the physical boundary between Zimbabwe and SA and most of its oarts are crocodile infested.
Research shows the primary, naturally occurring crocodile species in the Limpopo River system is the Nile crocodile.
These, along with smaller dwarf crocodiles, inhabit the river, acting as top predators.
They are also called the ‘mamba’ (Swahili)’garwe’ (Shona)’ngwenya’ (Ndebele), and ‘kwena’ (Tswana).
These reptiles, the dominant species in the Limpopo River, are known for growing up to 20 feet and weighing over a ton.
They are found throughout the Limpopo River and surrounding areas, particularly where there is suitable, warm habitat.