Johannesburg -
A man was arrested on Friday morning for possession of a dead crocodile, Tshwane metro police said.
The man was travelling in his bakkie on Moloto Road in Derdepoort near the Pretoria CBD when he was stopped by police around 10.15am for a routine check, said spokesman Console Tleane.
The dead crocodile, 1,8m in length, was found in the back of the man's bakkie.
“The man claimed he had found the animal on a chicken farm in Wallmansthal (north of Pretoria). He claimed the animal was killed as it threatened the chickens.”
The man, 63, told police the dead crocodile was then put in a freezer.
Police arrested the man for possession of a protected animal and he was detained at the Kameeldrift police station.
The man, who faces a possible 10 years in prison or a large fine if found guilty, was expected to appear in court soon.
The carcass was handed over to nature conservation authorities. - Sapa