An investigation has been launched to locate the individual responsible for yet another act of animal cruelty all in the name of entertainment – the victim being a Nile crocodile.
On 18 January 2025, several disturbing videos emerged, showing a man teasing and injuring a wild Nile crocodile. In the videos, the man is seen beating and kicking the animal on the snout. Later, he uses a slasher to slash at the crocodile, striking it multiple times in the mouth. At the same time, several others are seen stoning the injured and defenceless animal.
Sadly, community members from the village where the incident took place appear to enjoy the behaviour, cheering the man on and stating that it should be killed.
After being alerted to the videos, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) Inspectors White and Mmoya immediately launched an investigation into this act of cruelty, which is believed to have taken place in a village called Duthuni in Limpopo. With the invaluable assistance of Senior Inspector Khodobo from Louis Trichardt SPCA, they rushed to investigate the incident.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the man responsible had added to the crocodile’s pain and suffering by hacking at the animal’s teeth while it was still alive. Nature Conservation authorities later humanely euthanised the animal.
Perhaps most upsetting is that the man showed absolutely no remorse for his actions. In fact, he seemed to enjoy torturing and essentially fatally injuring the crocodile. Following his behaviour, the man mocked the situation, branding himself as the “King of Crocodiles”, and even printing T-shirts of him teasing the crocodile. These images and videos have also been widely circulated on social media.
While crocodiles can pose a threat to humans when out of water, they will generally avoid interactions with people. This animal posed no immediate threat to the man and did not deserve such torture. As of 2017, the Nile crocodile is listed as a vulnerable species on the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Red List. There is absolutely no reason to treat any animal in this way.
The man in the video has been identified and criminal charges under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 will be opened against him.
However, this matter is more than a legal one – it is another incident highlighting the increasing popularity of online animal cruelty.
The NSPCA is concerned with the number of acts of cruelty against animals that are being filmed for entertainment and circulated on social media for the enjoyment of others. It is unimaginable that social media users can find animal torture and cruelty entertaining. Animals are sentient beings that, like us, experience positive and negative feelings like happiness, sadness, and pain. We implore all South Africans to treat all animals with the respect they deserve.
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