Crocodiles are some of the most feared predators in Africa, ruthless reptiles renowned for tearing their prey to pieces before swallowing chunks of meat raw.
But in the baking sun at Nyanyana crocodile farm on the shores of Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba, feeding time has a surreal edge as the beasts nibble lazily at bowls of vegetarian pellets.
Besides being cheaper than meat, the diet of protein concentrate, minerals, vitamins, maize meal and water is said to enhance crocodile skin destined to become handbags or shoes on the catwalks of New York, Paris, London or Milan.
“We don’t feed them meat any more,” said Oliver Kamundimu, financial director of farm owner Padenga Holdings. (Reuters)
Stag, hen night revelry slammed
Sleep-deprived Poole residents could “take the law into their own hands” after being disturbed at weekends by “naked butlers” and “prostitutes”, a Conservative MP has warned.
Poole MP Robert Syms has urged the Government to clamp down on raucous stag and hen groups who besiege the affluent Sandbanks peninsula area in Dorset. Syms said that the so-called “party houses” were ruining his constituents’ lives.
He said: “The reality is that we have to do something about this, because it’s making people’s lives a misery.” (PA)
Foolish mum charged for speeding
A woman was arrested for driving at 123mph on the Maine Turnpike with her two children in the back seat, police said.
Cheryl Gilson, 24, of Cornish, was charged with criminal speed, driving to endanger and endangering the welfare of her children, aged three and five. She was released on $250 (€180) cash bail.
A trooper in Saco clocked the Hyundai Sonata she was driving at 123mph (198kph), almost double the 65mph (105kph) speed limit. It took the trooper at least 10 miles (16km) to run down the car because it was going so fast, public safety department spokesman Steve McCausland. (PA)
BBC woman on yacht challenge
A British woman is preparing for a “scary and exhilarating” challenge when she takes part in the next leg of a round the world yacht race to raise funds for charity.
Lesley Johnson, 53, a BBC operations director, will fly to San Francisco tomorrow to join the Great Britain team as they sail 5,500 miles around the US to New York, via the Panama Canal and Jamaica.
She is raising money for BBC Children in Need by competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
The dangers of the challenge were demonstrated last week when Londoner Andrew Taylor needed rescuing after falling overboard in a fierce storm in the Pacific Ocean. (PA)
Wealthy couple’s shotgun divorce
A wealthy couple’s 43-year marriage “irretrievably broke down” when a businessman with a passion for shooting “to death” his wife’s pet ram, a High Court judge has said.
The animal was killed as the “very rich” 68-year-old man and his 70-year-old Austrian wife had a “most animated argument”, said Mr Justice Mostyn. The judge said both had subsequently filed for divorce.
Details emerged after the couple fought over money at a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London. (PA)