Runners beware: A crocodile spotted on the bank of the lake at the popular jogging track at Likas Sports Complex in Kota Kinabalu.
KOTA KINABALU: Crocodiles continue to be spotted at the popular jogging track around the banks of a lake at the Likas Sports Complex here.
A jogger on Tuesday spotted a relatively large reptile sunning itself at the edge of the lake.
The eyewitness, who declined to be named but provided a picture, believes there are three or four crocodiles in the lake.
“Some of them are small and do not disturb us. In fact, when these crocodiles see people around, they go back into the water.
“I am not too worried about their presence,” said the jogger in his 50s, who runs around the lake every evening.
He was able to snap a picture of the crocodile on Tuesday evening as the reptile did not move.
The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) has been setting up traps in the area to catch crocodiles for over a decade, but these reptiles have been elusive, with mostly monitor lizards being caught.
SWD director Augustine Tuuga said it had also set up nets in the lake, with limited success.
“We caught one recently with a fishing net. No luck with the traps so far,” he said when contacted yesterday.
However, the small crocodile trapped in the net had died.
Meanwhile, Tuuga said crocodiles were unlikely to attack while on land.
“In fact, they would more likely flee into the water if approached.
“The animals are most dangerous when people go to the edge of the pond or lake when the crocodile is in the water and big enough to cause serious injury or death. They will attack, for example, if they need food,” he added.
However, he warned joggers to be cautious at all times and be aware of their surroundings to avoid any attacks.
Over the last 15 years, crocodiles have been sighted in many of the city’s monsoon drains, at the Likas lagoon, and at the Tanjung and Likas beaches.
No one can actually pinpoint the origin of the crocodiles in the city’s waterways, but some suspect they could be from a private collection that escaped during severe floods in the city and neighbouring Penampang.
Wildlife rangers have successfully captured a few, but the sightings continue.
