Two boys aged eight and nine from Hlengani Village, under Chief Tshovani in Chiredzi, have left their community shocked after allegedly stoning a crocodile to death in a local stream and dragging it home.
The incident is said to have happened as the boys were returning from a football game at a nearby playground.
Along the way, they reportedly spotted a young crocodile swimming across Machoka Stream, which runs through the village.
The boys allegedly picked up stones and threw them at the crocodile until it died. Afterwards, they are said to have dragged the animal by its tail through the village, apparently intending to show their parents what they had done.
The unusual scene attracted the attention of villagers, who were stunned by the incident and quickly alerted the police and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
Officials later collected the crocodile’s carcass from the village. Masvingo provincial deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu, confirmed the incident. He said:
“We are advising parents to talk to their children about staying away from danger. These things can be fatal.
“No action is being taken against the two boys, with authorities likely considering their age and the circumstances of the incident.”
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