Croc management: Sarawak to study Aussie methods

KUCHING: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan will lead a delegation to Australia to study methods used by the country to manage crocodile habitats.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg stated this is an effort to control the increasing crocodile population in the state.

He said the Sarawak government will adopt the same system after the study in Australia is completed.

“We will study how they manage crocodiles, when they kill crocodiles, what they do with the crocodiles, following the guidelines of the United Nations (UN).

“Since crocodiles are categorised as an endangered species, we also need to protect them, which is why this delegation is being sent to study the matter,” he said.

He told reporters this after officiating at the 10th World Herpetology Congress at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.

In addition, Abang Johari said the delegation will also study how humans and crocodiles can coexist.

He said the crocodiles in the northern and southern regions of Australia are different, stressing that this needs to be studied, including their river systems.

“In the northern region of Australia, I have seen for myself, crocodiles and buffaloes coexist. Crocodiles do not eat the buffaloes, how can they coexist? They are in the same habitat, but they do not kill each other.

“So as long as crocodiles do not kill humans, how can humans and crocodiles coexist? The delegation will study this matter,” he said.

Abang Johari added that the delegation will depart for Australia on Monday (Aug 5).