State tackling villagers' concerns about Crocs


KINABATANGAN: The Sabah government has taken several measures to address the crocodile population in the state. 

State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Jafry Ariffin said that among them is to issue crocodile hunting licences for local usage or for breeding at the farms statewide. 

“The state government will also issue  crocodile breeding permits to members of the public who are interested in keeping these crocodiles for commercial purposes or otherwise. 

“(The authorities) will also shoot dead or catch crocodiles that create conflict with humans,” he told the New Straits Times. 

Last week, Kinabatangan member of parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also state Deputy Chief Minister, had urged relevant authority to tackle the issue including audit the population and look into permits issuance or controlled hunting of crocodiles. 

 He made the call following the latest incident of a woman who died after being attacked by a crocodile in Kinabatangan. 

Based on Non-Detrimental Findings Study, Jafry added there are 2,886 crocodiles based on a survey between 2007 and 2020 which covered 10 main rivers in Sabah. 

Those rivers are Sg. Kinabatangan, Sg. Segama, Sg. Silabukan, Sg. Klias, Sg. Padas, Sg. Bengkoka, Sg. Paitan, Sg. Kalumpang, Sg. Labuk and Sg. Serudong.

Kinabatangan river has the highest number of crocodiles at 1,368. 

“However, it is believed that its population is higher than the estimation because many streams are also found to have crocodiles. 

“The conflict is caused by the movement of crocodiles to the streams due to disruptions to habitat and food sources at major rivers.” 

He also said there is only one crocodile species in the state which is Crocodylus porosus.

Based on scientific records, female crocodiles will mature and can lay eggs at the age of 12 and 14 years and will lay eggs once a year.  The number of eggs each laying is between 40 and 90 eggs.


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