Terrifying moment crocodile causes panic as it walks through restaurant, climbs on bench at Zimbabwe hotel
Staff at a hotel in Zimbabwe got the shock of their lives when a crocodile crawled through the hotel to get into the hotel’s kitchen.
The crocodile swooped into the A’Zambezi River Lodge in Victoria Falls as people searched for a place to hide from the 12ft reptile.
Video footage shared online shows the scaly beast wandering around the hotel lobby before making its way almost to the counter.
The reptile, disadvantaged by its short legs, tried to climb onto the counter without succeeding in climbing onto it.
Rangers and wildlife experts from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority attended the lodge in an attempt to capture the predator and remove it from the scene.
After unsuccessful attempts to direct the crocodile to the Zambezi River, the team managed to catch the crocodile with a rope as it lay in the puddle outside the hotel.
Accordingly news.com.auJohn Richards, of Portsmouth, said staff and security made sure everyone at the scene was unharmed.
“All these rangers and wildlife officers came with ropes and tarps and were able to catch him and tie him up and then take him away,” he said.
ZimParks spokesman Luckmore Safuli said the crocodile was captured and released back into the Zambezi River where it is believed to have originated.
“The animal, identified as a Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) from the Zambezi River system, was safely immobilized and relocated by trained Authority personnel,” he said.
“The crocodile was later released back into the river. No human injuries or property damage were recorded.”
He explained that it was not an unusual situation for the crocodile to come ashore.
“The authority states that the incident occurred within the natural range and habitat of the species. The lodge is located in a riverine environment along the Zambezi River that supports resident crocodile populations,” Mr Safuli said.
“Movement of crocodiles on land is normal behavior and is often associated with basking, nesting, dispersal or territorial activities.”
