Crocodile spotted at Pasir Ris Beach

Straits Times 5 Aug 08;

RETIREE Ong Wee Lee, 70, was taking a walk at Pasir Ris Beach on Sunday when he spotted a crocodile near a mangrove swamp.

Mr Ong's daughter, who rushed down after a call from her dad, took a photograph of the crocodile, which they estimated to be more than 1m long.

The reptile crawled back into the water when the camera flash went off.
A Public Utilities Board (PUB) spokesman confirmed the sighting, and said it was working with the National Parks Board to trap it.

The crocodile was spotted at an area near the mangrove swamp beside the Tampines River canal in Pasir Ris Park.

'When anyone tries to approach the crocodile, it will go into the water and swim a distance away,' Mr Ong said.

His daughter, who did not want to be named, added: 'The crocodile may attack beachgoers.'

On a separate occasion a few days ago, Mr Ong spotted a smaller crocodile about 0.5m long.

Recreational fisherman Japrey, 32, who is in the construction line, fishes at the Pasir Ris Park mangrove area three to four times a week. He said: 'I started fishing here two years ago, but it was only about a year ago that crocodiles started appearing.'

He said he had seen up to three crocodiles at one time, and that they usually appeared in the late afternoons during low tide.

The PUB said there were already signs around the swamp and canal cautioning the public against entering the river as there could be rapid water flow.

ANG YIYING & KIMBERLY SPYKERMAN