Malaysia: Stop killing the crocodile, plead wildlife activists

Nigel Edgar and Sharin Shaik The Star 3 Jan 11;

KUCHING: Villagers have vowed to continue their hunt for a crocodile that killed and devoured a man here, even if they have to kill “each and every last one” in the Batang Samarahan River.

Their pledge, however, has earned them the wrath of environmentalists and wildlife groups.

Malaysian Nature Society chairman Asso Prof Maketab Mohamed said although human life was sacred, it did not mean that it was all right to kill crocodiles “as if their lives were worthless”.

The villagers have so far caught and disembowelled three crocodiles since Sidi Samad, 66, was seen eaten alive on Dec 18.

Prof Maketab urged the authorities not to go “hunting blindly” unless they were sure that they had found the killer crocodile.

Environmentalist Anthony Sebastian said the killings should stop because it was not the crocodile’s fault.

“When humans live close to nature, there is bound to be conflict with wildlife.

“So, it is only natural for the animals to fend for themselves, and in this case, for the crocodile to kill,” he said.

Anthony advised the authorities to stop the killings but appease the villagers at the same time.

“It is a tough job for the authorities but they should be responsible,” he said.

Village head Awang Kanong Awang Alim said the man-eater must be found and killed because it had committed a “sin” against the people by taking Sidi’s life.

He realised that wildlife authorities might not be pleased with them for killing the protected reptile but he said the villagers had no choice but to find the killer crocodile.

“We have been living near this river for a long time. The river is where we earn our living,” he said.

The hunt will stop when the villagers find evidence of Sidi’s remains in the belly of a crocodile.

However, not all the villagers agree with the killings.

One of them, who wanted to be known only as Mohai, said: “They cannot kill every crocodile in the river. It’s a protected reptile.”

Mohai said the authorities should catch crocodiles living near populated areas and relocate them to a habitat far from people.