Brave Locals Catch And Kill Huge Crocodile After 17ft Beast Mauls Boy, 3, To Death

A killer 17-foot crocodile has been killed after mauling a toddler to death.

A three-year-old-boy was visiting a lake in Kenya with his family when the giant reptile snatched him before his helpless mum.

Members from the bereaved family’s community in East Asembo in Rarieda, Siaya County, set out to catch the crocodile responsible on Saturday (May 9).

A trap proved successful when the beast from Lake Victoria’s Ralayo Beach, fell for the bait and residents brutally hacked away at its body with axes.

The savaged young boy was one of three children who had accompanied their mother to the lake to fetch water when the crocodile drifted into the neighboured.

The devastated mother was left looking on helplessly as the horrifying incident stunned the local neighbourhood.

One resident, Alex Otieno, said the crocodile may have strayed into the area after locals settled on crocodile habitats – which is increasing the amount of attacks in neighbourhoods.

And in August 2020, a crocodile attacked a 32-year-old woman at the very same beach – with similar traps laid down to catch the reptile.

Paul Omondi, a fisherman at Ralayo Beach, said at the time they needed to attract the crocodile with food in order to catch the 17-foot long beast.

He said: “We attach meat to a hook. So, when the crocodile bites the meat, it gets caught.”

However, locals taking actions into their own hands is being warned against as The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said anyone trying to catch an animal due to a human-wildlife conflict should report the case to them first.

Residents used axes to kill the animal and used meat as a distraction, with the Kenya Wildlife Service arriving later to collect the remains of the crocodile.

According to Meshack Okuku, Siaya County Beach Management Unit chairperson, there have been a reported increase in the number of hippo and crocodile attacks in the area.

With a number of beaches reported as having high cases of crocodiles and hippo attacks in areas such as Rabolo, Anyanga, Nyenye-Misori, Ralayo and Kamito.