Londoner flies out to catch killer crocodile

A television wildlife expert has gone to Africa to hunt a child-eating crocodile - believed to be responsible for at least two deaths.

Pete Prodromou, also known as "Safari Pete", who is a regular on Channel 4's The Paul O'Grady Show, said he hoped to capture the beast humanely.

The 29-year-old from Highbury flew to Uganda on Monday after learning about the attack on 15-year-old Joshua Tugume, from the village of Katwe.

Mr Prodromou said he had been called in to help after furious locals vowed to "hunt down and kill all the crocodiles".

They said they had become fed up with the Ugandan Wildlife Authority.

The teenager had been having a Christmas Day swim when he was taken by the reptile. Another boy, Tumwibe Nanyongo, has also gone missing and is feared dead in the same attack.

Mr Prodromou, who has been described as a real-life Crocodile Dundee, said he hoped to convince people to listen to him.

He said: "I often get flown out to deal with problem crocodiles.

"In this case a child is eaten and another is missing - almost certainly dead. I will go over to try to find the bodies and catch the crocodile humanely.

"If the villagers feel a child has been eaten they are going to kill the croc and there is not a lot you can do - but I can make sure it isn't cruel.

"Sometimes they poison a river just to make sure they get the beast.

"It might take a week and we will use some crazy methods to lure it - a blow-up doll covered with human scent. Generally there are a few crocs, but if one comes up to the doll aggressively, that's the one we are after."

He added: "It's terrifying up close, not because of the croc but because of the other wildlife you might disturb -lions, buffalo and hippos."
The conservationist has close links with the Ugandan government and has been involved in projects for more than a decade after first taking an interest in crocodiles as a boy.

He said "I kind of grew up wanting to do it. I used to go to Florida to catch them, but you can't do that forever so I now teach people and have been giving talks in schools.

"I truly respect these amazing beasts and love getting close to them. The biggest I have caught was 18 foot. I have had a few narrow escapes, but luckily I haven't been bitten yet."