Villagers urged to properly dispose of rubbish, avoid feeding crocodiles

KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) is issuing a stern reminder to villagers, urging them to properly dispose of rubbish in designated areas and refrain from feeding crocodiles in the region.

SFC’s Swift Wildlife Action Team (SWAT) executive Dr Mohd Izwan Zulaini pointed out the importance of this practice to prevent the attraction of reptiles, particularly crocodiles, to residential areas.

According to him, improper waste disposal has been linked to the increased presence of crocodiles near inhabited regions, as surveys indicate that crocodiles are predominantly found in populated areas.

Dr. Mohd Izwan. Photo: Ghazali Bujang

“We have received numerous complaints about crocodile sightings near garbage disposal areas and instances of wild animals being eaten by crocs. These factors contribute to the presence of crocodiles in these areas, especially where residents dispose of their rubbish and free-roaming farm animals roam near the river,” he explained during a press conference here on Thursday (Dec 28).

Addressing the issue of villagers feeding crocodiles, Mohd Izwan expressed concern about the dangerous practice of residents throwing food or food scraps into the river to feed the reptiles.

“When crocodiles are fed, they tend to wait in the area for more food. What concerns us is when children jump into the river, as the crocodile may mistake them for food, posing a grave danger to children playing in the river,” he warned.

He also revealed instances where initial warnings to residents were disregarded until the situation became critical, and the reptiles posed imminent threats to the village.

“We’ve encountered cases where despite our initial advice, no actions were taken by the village heads until the situation escalated. It’s only when the safety of the village is at risk that they seek our intervention.

“We urge residents to please follow instructions, don’t ignore them until it is too late,” he added.