Thousands of crocodiles are still on the loose after escaping from a farm in South Africa.

About 2,000 of the 7,000 which escaped have been recaptured, according to the Beeld newspaper.

They got away from the crocodile farm when the gates on a dam were opened to alleviate pressure created by rising flood waters.

Video from the scene shows people hunting down the small-ish crocs at night, tying them up and taking them back to the Rakwena Crocodile Farm, in northern South Africa near the Botswana border.

The farm, which did not respond to calls seeking comment, used to hold 15,000 crocodiles.

The farm's website shows goods like crocodile-skin purses and hats for sale.

Northern South Africa and neighbouring Mozambique have seen massive floods over the last week.