Julia Chan New Straits Times 25 Jun 10;
KOTA KINABALU: Diminishing food sources is among the reasons why there have been 38 recorded crocodile attacks on human beings, including 23 fatal ones, here in the last decade.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the attacks on humans were also linked to human dependency on waterways and lack of precautionary steps taken by victims.
"However, attacks might also be a signal to a deeper crisis in the food chain where the crocodiles reside. Change and reduction of prey like fish and small mammals which could be caused by an increase of water pollution should be investigated."
Masidi also said the clearing of land, rivers and estuaries for development would also disrupt the natural food chain and habitats, and cause the crocodile-human conflict.
"If the crocodile is hungry, and a human is within its turf, then it's going to grab whatever moves," he said after opening the "Crocodile conservation through sustainable use" workshop on Wednesday.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Laurentius Ambu said the number of attacks has increased, including in Kinabatangan, Silabukan, Kalumpang and Paitan rivers.
"There have also been a number of incidences that have not been reported. Apparently, there have been 15 crocodile attacks in Lahad Datu and Kunak districts over the past 11 years.
"The department has a policy of investigating all reports of sightings and has taken prompt action at locations where fatal attacks have taken place, usually capturing and removing large crocodiles from these areas," said Laurentius.
Sabah has an estimated 16,000 saltwater crocodiles, mostly in the western regions of Segama, Labuk, Paitan and Pitas.
The workshop is jointly organised by the department with the International Union for Conservation of Nature -- Crocodile Specialist Group, with support from Danau Girang Field Centre and Cardiff University, Sandakan and Tawau Crocodile Farms, Borneo Crocodile Centre, and Toyo Leather Corporation and Seisa University in Japan.
IUCN-Crocodile Specialist Group's Professor Grahame Webb delivered the keynote address.
