‘Kids could end up being eaten’: Minister urges action after viral video shows crocodile hunting pigeon at Kuching Waterfront

Composite image of screenshots from a viral video showing a crocodile catching a pigeon near the Kuching Waterfront.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, June 19: A recent viral video showing a large crocodile hunting and devouring a pigeon at the Kuching Waterfront has prompted a call for action from Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who warned that the presence of the predator in one of the city’s busiest tourist areas should not be taken lightly.

The Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak said the footage demonstrated that the reptile was actively hunting prey and posed a potential danger to the public if left unchecked.

“I’ve seen that video of the crocodile eating the pigeon. That means that crocodile is not a very tame one,” he told reporters after attending the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Hungarian naturalist and explorer Janos Xantus at the Sarawak State Library here today.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

While acknowledging that crocodile sightings along the Sarawak River could attract visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the reptiles in the wild, Abdul Karim stressed that safety must remain the priority.

“From one angle, we would say it’s good for tourism because everybody will be there wanting to see live crocodiles.

“But we also have to be very, very careful. Crocodiles can be looked upon as predators. If you’re not careful, you might get eaten by a crocodile,” he said.

He pointed out that the crocodile’s successful hunt of a pigeon in the viral video was a reminder that the animal remains a natural predator despite its proximity to an urban setting.

“If there are kids swimming in that river, they might end up being eaten by the crocodile,” he cautioned.

Abdul Karim expressed hope that the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) would take the necessary measures to address the situation.

According to him, SFC had previously conducted crocodile capture operations in the area, particularly beneath the floating mosque along the Sarawak River, where the reptiles are known to congregate.

“Before this, they had already caught quite a number of crocodiles staying under that mosque and kept them in the sanctuary in Matang.

“This one must be a new one because I know before this they have already caught so many,” he said.

The minister noted that crocodiles have long been known to inhabit parts of the Sarawak River, especially around the floating mosque, but said the latest sighting suggested another reptile had moved into the area.

Although he was unsure why the animals appeared drawn to the location, Abdul Karim jokingly remarked that they might enjoy the cool environment beneath the mosque or even the sound of the call to prayer.

The latest sighting has reignited concerns over human-wildlife interactions along the Sarawak River, particularly around the Kuching Waterfront, one of the State capital’s most popular tourism and recreational destinations. — DayakDaily