KOTA KINABALU: Culling crocodiles in areas where they pose a danger is the only option left for Sabah wildlife rangers as relocating the reptiles or putting them into farms was no longer viable.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said crocodile farms were too full and were not taking in any more crocodiles, while relocating them to other areas could pose a danger to people there.
He said this amid questions raised on social media that the Wildlife Department should not have killed a 5m-long crocodile weighing 1.2 tons found lurking under a house at Kampung Desa Bajau in Lahad Datu on Monday.
The crocodile, which had almost attacked a child, was initially restrained by Civil Defence Force personnel who had to call in wildlife rangers as it was too large and aggressive. The rangers shot it dead.
Tuuga said that in the past, they had sent all captured crocodiles to crocodile farms.
“But none of them (crocodile farms) accept any more because they have enough crocodiles in their farms.”
He said relocating the crocodiles to other rivers was also becoming difficult as many villagers in such areas did not want reptiles released there.
“Even if it is quite far from their villages, it may pose a danger to them.
“Of course, it is also not good in terms of the ecological harmony of the resident crocodile population. There will be territorial fighting in the new environment.
“Our best choice is just to cull. It is a difficult decision that we had to make. Any decision is bound to have opposition from people who don’t understand our situation.
“Of course, we can always do the thing that people have suggested but we have to make a decision that we think is best for all parties,” he added.
Tuuga said that since 2000, a total of 65 people have been killed and 31 injured in crocodile attacks across Sabah.
This year alone, he said nine people were killed and four mauled in crocodile attacks in Lahad Datu, Kota Belud, and Tawau.
In 2022, nine people were killed and eight injured in such incidents.
