‘They try to kill and eat you. People are harder. Sometimes they pretend to be your friend first.’ – Australian zookeeper, conservationist, Steve Irwin.
Sarawak, the Land of the Hornbills, has many rivers. In many of the rivers, there are crocodiles. When men and crocodiles co-exist peacefully, there is no big news, at least for the newspapers.
But a few days ago, a crocodile attack in Tatau, Bintulu Division, made the headline news again.
A six-year-old girl, Cicilia Julan Intik, was reported missing after being attacked by a crocodile while bathing with her family in a river at Kampung Seberang Pasar Lama at 6.30 pm on Wednesday, Sept 18. The attack was witnessed by the girl’s grandfather.
Firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) rushed to the scene to start a search and rescue operation after being informed by the Tatau police at 7.21 pm about the incident.
At press time, the search is ongoing and the girl’s body has not been found yet.
Following the incident, Persatuan Habitat Indigenous Daerah Untuk Pemulihan (HIDUP) stressed that the Sarawak government must collaborate with conservationists and local authorities to implement a hybrid approach to prevent further crocodile attacks.
HIDUP’s president George Young Si Ricord Jr called for immediate action to safeguard communities while maintaining conservation efforts.
He suggested intensified relocation programmes in areas where crocodiles frequently interacted with humans.
If relocation was not feasible, then controlled population management should be considered to prevent further loss of lives.
George also suggested the establishment of no-swim zones and restrictions on human activities to mitigate the chances of attacks.
He added that the state could fund safety measures by capitalising on crocodile conservation success through controlled eco-tourism and organised hunts, promoting awareness and generating resources for ongoing efforts in affected areas.
Expressing concern over the increasing number of crocodile attacks in the state, George added that the Tatau tragedy was a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by crocodiles as their population expanded.
He pointed out that crocodile attacks were no longer isolated incidents as attacks had been reported almost every other day in recent months.
George said while conservation efforts had successful boosted crocodile populations, they had also led to an imbalance between wildlife management and human safety.
He said it was time for a comprehensive approach that continued to protect Sarawak’s rich wildlife while prioritising the safety of people.
It is good of George to make such constructive suggestions on safeguarding the communities from crocodile attacks while maintaining conservation efforts.
It is hoped that the Sarawak government will take note of some of his suggestions and maybe adopt them for the good of the local communities who live by the rivers.
In August this year, when opening the 10th World Congress of Herpetology in Kuching, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg acknowledged that Sarawak rivers were now full of crocodiles.
He revealed that Sarawak planned to learn how to manage its crocodile population from Australia and that a delegation led by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan was going Down Under to study its crocodile management.
Abang Johari added, “Crocodiles are a diminishing species under the United Nations, so we must conserve them. We want to study how Australia manages its crocodiles including when and how to cull them so that it doesn’t go against the United Nations.”
The premier said Sarawak also wanted to learn how humans could coexist with the crocodiles. He said the state planned to create crocodile-free zones and crocodile sanctuaries to manage the reptiles and reduce conflicts with humans.
Later, during his visit to Australia, Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development, witnessed the signing of a historic memorandum of agreement (MoA) on wildlife management between Sarawak and the Northern Territory of Australia at the Crocodylus Park in Darwin.
In a press statement, Awang Tengah said, “The MoA focuses on sharing expertise in crocodile management, a critical area for both regions, given their unique ecosystems.
This agreement represents a commitment to sustainable wildlife management, fostering a collaborative approach to addressing conservation challenges.”
Since the signing of the MoA, another crocodile attack has occurred.
I wonder what are the advices of the Australian experts to Sarawak given the latest development. And how will the state manage its growing crocodile population from now on? To cull or not to cull?
My friends, I think crocodiles are fascinating, yet scary creatures. That’s why I’m keeping my ears open for the latest crocodile news in Sarawak.
