Organisers of the Hansa Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon fear a series of crocodile sightings in rivers running through the Valley of a Thousand Hills and in the Albert Falls area may pose a threat to the safety of paddlers participating in the race in January 2006.
Ray de Vries, spokesperson for the race organisers, said more than 12 crocodiles, varying in length, had been spotted in the rivers of the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
Cameron Mackenzie, chairman of the Dusi organising committee, said the race was still months away but the sighting of small crocodiles raised suspicions about the existence of larger ones in the area.
Yesterday, race organisers received reports of baby crocodiles sunning themselves on the weir below Albert Falls, which eventually feeds into the Umsundusi River.
"What we really need to find out is whether they are breeding down there or just passing through. In any event, it is a big worry for us," he said.
KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife honorary game officer Garth Carpenter said there should not be any crocodiles in the river but there had been several sightings between Albert Falls Dam and Wartburg Road.