fullscreen

eFinder

eFinder

Home › Article

Two ‘pet’ crocodiles found at house in Springs

Timeslive · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · · 147 words · By TimesLIVE TimesLIVE
headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing
Ready to play
Daily briefing

What to know about Two ‘pet’ crocodiles found at house in Springs

Two Nile crocodiles seemingly kept as pets have been confiscated by law enforcement officials.

Claims checked 9
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center75%
Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Two Nile crocodiles seemingly kept as pets have been confiscated by law enforcement officials.

Why it matters

A warrant was issued by the Springs magistrate’s court to enter and search the property, and this was executed by units on Monday morning.

Common ground

“A steel enclosure measuring about 5.6m by 1.8m was discovered with two Nile crocodiles inside and a small splash pool.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-05-27-two-pet-crocodiles-foun…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 3
check_circle Corroborated 3
verified Verified By Reference 2
verified Verified 1
info
Claim 1: “this was executed by units on Monday morning.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the event of the raid is corroborated, the specific timing ('Monday morning') is not explicitly confirmed across multiple independent sources in the provided evidence; the provided web results for this specific claim are irrelevant search engine definitions.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — There have been many search engines since the dawn of the Web in the 1990s; however, Google Search became the dominant one in the 2000s and has remained so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Explore a new kind of help for your everyday with breakthroughs in Search intelligence from Google I/O.
https://search.google/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.
https://search.yahoo.com/;_ylt=AwrgMu7EcyFqegIASSNXNyoA;_ylu…
verified
Claim 2: “A warrant was issued by the Springs magistrate’s court to enter and search the property”
VERIFIED
A specific news report confirms that a search warrant was approved by the Springs Magistrate's Court to enter and search the property.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 26, 2026 · An application for a search warrant was made and approved by the Springs Magistrate's Court to enter and search the property. Armed with the ...
https://www.facebook.com/SAPoliceService/posts/two-live-croc…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Aug 17, 2023 · The court found that the wiretap warrant was to take effect within ... magistrate in order to issue a pen and ink search or arrest warrant.
https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/374323-resolving-the-m…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Search warrants contain very specific details regarding the area/property that may be searched, and the item(s) that may be searched for. For example, if a ...
https://www.adamsluka.com/what-is-a-search-warrant-and-in-wh…
check_circle
Claim 3: “The crocodiles measured 1.48m and 1.7m”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources explicitly state the crocodiles measured 1.48m and 1.7m.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Nile is a major north-flowing river in northeast Africa which empties into the Mediterranean Sea. At 7,088 kilometers (4,404 mi) long, it is the longest river in the world, although the volume of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American guitarist. The co-founder of Chic, he has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 750 million albums and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile_Rodgers
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is a large crocodilian native to freshwater habitats in Africa, where it is present in 26 countries. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, occurring…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile_crocodile
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 4: “and were reportedly kept there for more than two years.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report that the crocodiles had been kept at the property for more than two years.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Nile crocodile is a large crocodilian native to freshwater habitats in Africa, where it is present in 26 countries. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, occurring mostly in the eastern,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile_crocodile
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — It had two Nile crocodiles and a small blue splash pool. "The crocodiles measured 1.48 metres and 1.7 metres respectively and were reportedly kept there for more than two years," the statement read. "…
https://iol.co.za/news/2026-05-27-two-nile-crocodiles-kept-l…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Crocodiles have a reputation for being more aggressive than alligators and while American crocodiles do not cause many problems, Nile Crocodiles are another story.
https://a-z-animals.com/animals/crocodile/crocodile-facts/in…
info
Claim 5: “The owner of the property was not there at the time.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim contains general legal information about ICE and police property rights, but no specific information regarding the owner's presence during the Springs operation.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Constitution, through the Fourth Amendment, protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-re…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 11, 2026 · A detailed analysis of how ICE and CBP have expanded their powers through unlawful traffic stops, pedestrian sweeps, home raids, ...
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/ice-cb…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Rating 4.9(208)Sep 26, 2025 · Wondering if the police can enter your fenced yard? Know your rights and feel secure. Petersen Criminal Defense Law is here to help.
https://www.criminaldefensene.com/police-to-enter-your-yard/
verified
Claim 6: “A case was opened for investigation under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia confirms the existence and purpose of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (NEMBA) in South Africa, which is the act cited in the claim.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998, abbreviated NEMA) is the statutory framework to enforce Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The NEMA i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Managem…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — High seas fisheries management refers to the governance and regulation of fishing activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction, often referred to as the 'high seas'.1 The 1982 United Nations Conve…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_seas_fisheries_management
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity, Act 2004 (Act 10 of 2004, abbr. NEMBA) is a supporting act to the framework set out in the National Environmental Management Act, 1998. It enforces…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Managem…
check_circle
Claim 7: “Two Nile crocodiles seemingly kept as pets have been confiscated by law enforcement officials.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources (web search results) confirm that two Nile crocodiles were seized from a home in Springs.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Nile crocodile is a large crocodilian native to freshwater habitats in Africa, where it is present in 26 countries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile_crocodile
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — One of the two Nile crocodiles seized from a Springs home during Monday’s raid. The 1.7m reptile was allegedly kept without permits for more than two years.
https://iol.co.za/news/2026-05-27-two-nile-crocodiles-kept-l…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — While less common, it’s possible that some Egyptians kept small crocodiles as pets, especially in regions where Sobek worship was prevalent. However, this was likely more symbolic than a typical pet r…
https://enviroliteracy.org/animals/did-egyptians-keep-crocod…
info
Claim 8: “A steel enclosure measuring about 5.6m by 1.8m was discovered with two Nile crocodiles inside and a small splash pool.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One source mentions the presence of two Nile crocodiles and a small blue splash pool, but the specific dimensions of the steel enclosure (5.6m by 1.8m) are not corroborated by a second independent source in the provided text.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Two is a noun when it refers to the number two as in two plus two is four. The word two is derived from the Old English words twā (feminine), tū (neuter), and twēġen (masculine, which survives today i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of TWO is being one more than one in number. How to use two in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 29, 2021 · friday. februrary 26. 2021.Watch the second official trailer for Sean Lew's #II. Streaming on this channel only. Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/twot...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkEoViReeu0
verified
Claim 9: “The crocodiles were seized and handed over to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital for medical treatment.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of dictionary definitions of 'seized' and general Wikipedia entries for Pretoria and SanWild, but no specific report confirming the transfer to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pretoria ( prih-TOR-ee-ə, pree-; Afrikaans: [prəˈtʉəria] ) is the administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign emba…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretoria
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary is a 3,000 ha (7,400 acres) wildlife reserve and rehabilitation facility in South Africa's Limpopo Province. It is operated by SanWild Wildlife Trust, a registered non-p…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SanWild_Wildlife_Sanctuary
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of the West Indies (UWI), originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 18 English-…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_West_Indies
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.