Hanoi - As soldiers and provincial officials hunted for hundreds of crocodiles that escaped a flooded-out farm in central Vietnam, human victims of the floods have turned to the giant reptiles for food, an official saidAt least four of the runaway crocodiles - which weigh up to 200 kilograms - have been captured and butchered by flood victims for meat since the weekend, according to Duy Quang from Khanh Hoa provincial flood and storm control department.
Another three crocodiles were killed and sold for meat, he said.
So far, there have been no reports of attacks on humans by the crocodiles, who escaped from a farm in Khanh Hoa, when rising floodwaters washed them over their enclosures
"We have put out alerts to local people about being careful when they go to streams and rivers," Quang said.
Local militias and soldiers have been enlisted in a mass crocodile hunt in the province, 400 kilometres north of Ho Chi Minh City.
Of the hundreds of crocs that escaped, about 67 were accounted for by Tuesday, said Quang, who said 52 had been captured and turned over to authorities, eight shot dead and the rest captured and slaughtered for meat.
Cash rewards of 10,000 dong (66 cents) per kilogram have been offered for anyone turning in a crocodile, dead or alive.
