By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is adopting an integrated approach to address human-crocodile conflict by bringing together resources, expertise and personnel.
State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Dr Andi Md Shamsureezal Mohd Saina said the approach was suited to Sabah's geographical landscape, which comprises extensive river systems, estuaries and coastal areas, as well as a wide distribution of conflict hotspots.
Sabah's extensive waterways and coastal areas have made human-crocodile conflict a recurring challenge, leading to stronger coordination among agencies.
On July 18, the body of a 57-year-old man who was attacked by a crocodile while cleaning a boat at Kampung Batu Putih was found. His 19-year-old son witnessed the attack and saw his father being dragged away by the reptile.
Earlier in April, a 5-year-old girl went missing after she was reportedly snatched by a crocodile at a beach near Jalan Felda Sahabat 16, Desa Kencana.
Dr Andi said since 2023, the state government had strengthened mitigation efforts through the establishment of the Sabah State Crocodile Mitigation Operations Committee, chaired by the Sabah State Affairs Office secretary.
"The committee brings together the Sabah Wildlife Department, the police and other relevant agencies to coordinate operational responses, information sharing and rapid action in high-risk conflict areas.
"Among the measures that have been and continue to be implemented are integrated operations, the management of high-risk crocodiles based on assessments by the Sabah Wildlife Department and relevant legal provisions, public awareness programmes, the installation of warning signboards, and technical collaboration with relevant experts to manage and reduce human-crocodile conflict in Sabah.
"The approach adopted in Sabah is based on the location and level of conflict risk identified. Unlike the permanent deployment of special task forces along rivers practised in some other states," he said during the state legislative assembly sitting here.
He was replying to Datuk Wong Hong Jun (Warisan-Tanjung Aru) on the government's action plan to address human-crocodile conflict and whether it would emulate Sarawak in establishing a special task force stationed along rivers to capture crocodiles.
For the longer term, under the 13th Malaysia Plan, Dr Andi said the state government would implement comprehensive wildlife conflict management covering elephants, monkeys and other wildlife species.
He added that the approach focused on continuous monitoring, scientific research, community participation and strengthening the capacity of implementing agencies to ensure wildlife conflict management was carried out in a more sustainable and effective manner.
"The state government will continue to strengthen the management of human-crocodile conflict through a science-based approach, continuous monitoring, effective operational responses, inter-agency collaboration and community involvement to ensure public safety while preserving Sabah's biodiversity."
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