HANOI, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- A number of crocodiles have escaped from a farm in Vietnam's central Khanh Hoa province after their cages were damaged by flash floods, local newspaper Saigon Liberation reported Monday.

An identified number of big and small crocodiles in nearly 40 cages in the farm in Khanh Vinh district raised by local corporation Khanh Viet have been on the loose after the two floods damaged the cages on Nov. 10. The farm houses some 5,000 crocodiles, including around 500 parent ones.

As of Nov. 11, local soldiers, militiamen, the firm's staff and residents had shot dead and caught alive a total of 29 crocodiles, including nine adult ones. They are still searching for the reptiles on the loose.

The corporate officials said it is very difficult for the domestic crocodiles to survive and reproduce in natural environment.