Indonesian authorities have condemned the slaughter of almost 300 crocodiles at a West Papua farm, in an apparent act of retaliation after the death of a local villager.
On Saturday, 40-year-old Sugito was collecting grass for his cattle, when he wandered into the farm at Sorong.
Guards heard screams coming from inside the farm and, when they went to investigate, found Sugito had been bitten by a crocodile.
Police said the guards went looking for help to recover him, but by the time they returned, he was dead.
After his funeral, about 600 people descended on the crocodile farm armed with machetes, hoes and other sharp objects.
Witnesses said large crocodiles, up to 2 metres long, and babies were dragged from their enclosures and hacked to death.
In all, 292 crocodiles were killed.
Police said they tried to intervene, posting between 30 and 40 officers around the area, but were powerless to stop the killings.
"We couldn't do anything," Sorong Police Chief Dewa Made Sutrahna said.
"We were outnumbered. The situation was so tense."
Police suggested there might be a case of negligence brought against one of the security guards at the farm.
The owner of the farm and four other people were questioned.
West Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency said the slaughter of the crocodiles was illegal but no arrests had been made.
