Three men have been arrested in South Africa after a large Nile crocodile worth hundreds of dollars was stolen.
Police said the 2.5-metre reptile — estimated to be worth $1,300 — was taken from a crocodile farm in the Hartbeesfontein area in the country's North West province.
Those arrested were aged 20 to 35.
They are believed to have used a pickup truck to take the crocodile from a farm about 200km west of Johannesburg, AP reported.
The animal was found tied up with rope and wire and covered with tree branches in an abandoned farmhouse.
The men, who were arrested last week, were due to appear in court on Monday.
Police spokeswoman Adele Myburgh said officers were investigating how the heavy crocodile had been removed from the farm.
“How did they slip this animal out?" she said. “It's not a baby crocodile by any means.”
Ms Myburgh said the crocodile was badly dehydrated when it was found by a team of police officers and animal conservation officials.
The crocodile has been “returned to its rightful owner”, police said. They released a photo of it swimming in its pool at the farm.
While South Africa has a problem with poaching, crocodiles are not usually targeted because of how dangerous they can be.
Mr Myburgh said the motive was still under investigation but crocodile body parts such as the skin, nails and teeth do have value and those responsible might have been planning to kill the animal to sell those parts.
Ten crocodile mummies discovered in Egypt — in pictures
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Researchers Bea De Cupere and Wim Van Neer of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences measuring and studying the specimens on site. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets -
The specimens were found at the foot of an ancient rock tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets -
Researchers believe the crocodiles had been laid in sand, which allowed the bodies to dry out naturally. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets -
The skull of one of the largest crocodiles found at Qubbat al-Hawa. Photo: Bea De Cupere, RBINS -
The crocodiles did not display any sign of physical injury, leading researchers to speculate they had been killed by drowning, suffocation or overheating in the hot Egyptian sun. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets -
Archaeologist Vicente Barba Colmenero excavating a crocodile skull from the tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets -
An overview of some of the Qubbat al-Hawa tombs, including the crocodile crypt on the right. Photo: Jose Luis Perez Garcia -
It is thought the ancient Egyptians used the bodies as gifts to the crocodile Gods, such as the reptile-headed Sobek. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets -
The amazing find in the undisturbed tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets -
Five isolated skulls. From these it was calculated that the crocodiles were between 1.85m and 3.33m long. Photo: Bea De Cupere, RBINS
