2 crocs captured after ritual conducted in search for missing 6yo girl, suspected human teeth found

The large crocodile captured at Batang Tatau on Sept 27, 2024. Photo credit: Bintulu News Page and Sinchew Sarawal

By Karen Bong

TATAU, Sept 27: Two crocodiles were captured this morning at Sungai Annap along Batang Tatau, where a six-year-old girl, Cicilia Julan Intik, was suspected to have been dragged underwater by one over a week ago.

According to Sinchew Sarawak, one of the crocodiles had human teeth found inside its belly after being dissected.

The captures took place after the grieving family made the decision to engage a shaman for a summoning ritual and set traps to locate the creature on Wednesday (Sept 25), after eight days of search and recovery efforts failed to find the girl’s remains.

Composite showing the large crocodile captured at Batang Tatau on Sept 27, 2024. Photo credit: Sinchew Sarawak

The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) also launched an operation to catch crocodiles along the river which began yesterday (Sept 26) and will continue until Oct 7.

It warned that any activities along five kilometres of the river from Tatau old town are prohibited during the operation.

In a video clips shared on the Bintulu News Page and Sinchew Sarawak, a large crowd gathered at the riverbank as one of the crocodiles, which was especially large, was dragged onto the jetty by a significant number of people, including authorities and local villagers.

The crocodile was dissected on site at the jetty along Sungai Annap, Batang Tatau on Sept 27, 2024.

Bystanders could be heard expressing shock at the beast’s size.

The large crocodile was dissected on-site, with the contents of its belly being examined for signs of human remains. — DayakDaily