(MY) search for crocs

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Police call off search for boy taken by crocodile-new straits times*11 Sep

2006*

 

 

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*KUCHING: Police yesterday called off the search operation for a boy

believed to have been killed by a crocodile at the mouth of Sarawak River in

Kampung Bako near here on Sept 3.

*

The operation mounted by the Fire and Rescue Department, Sarawak Marine

Department and marine police with boats at the lower reaches of the river

was called off at 5pm today, said Gita police station head Sub-Inspector

Samsudin Hassan.

 

However, he said, the villagers and Rela members would continue their search

for Mohd Azuan Hatta, 12, who was believed to have been taken by an

estuarine crocodile while swimming with a friend.

 

Samsudin said police would continue to monitor the search.

 

Meanwhile, three of the seven pieces of bait set by a bomoh (traditional

medicine man) to entice the crocodile at the upper reaches of the river were

said to have been eaten by a crocodile.

 

The bomoh, Cheek Inu from Gedong who has a reputation for capturing

crocodiles, laid the bait with carcasses of monkeys and dead chickens last

Wednesday.

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Monday September 11, 2006 - the star

 

Study on croc density to better manage its population

 

*KUCHING:* Sarawak Forestry is carrying out a study on the crocodile density

in Kampung Bako and Kuching wetland areas.

 

Kampung Bako is where one of the reptiles attacked a boy recently.

 

Its chief wildlife warden, Wilfred Landong, said the findings would enable

the department to appropriately manage the crocodile population.

 

" Kampung Bako is one of the hotspots for research on crocodiles, " he said in

a press statement.

 

Landong said investigations showed that a Year Six pupil Mohd Azuan Hatta,

12, was attacked by a crocodile while swimming in Sg Bako near his house

over a week ago.

 

The search for the missing boy is still on and his family has engaged bomohs

to help capture the reptile.

 

Landong said crocodile sightings in the Kampung Bako area were common and he

advised villagers to be extra careful when doing their daily chores near the

riverbanks.

 

He said the adult male saltwater crocodiles were typically 5m long but the

bigger ones could measure up to 7m in length.

 

" Female crocodiles are much smaller than males, with typical female body

lengths in the range of 2.5m to 3m. "

 

Landong said while the estuarine crocodile, known locally as *buaya katak*,

was a protected animal, its killing was allowed if the reptile threatened or

endangered human life.

 

Under the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Ordinance, 2003, any wildlife

officer or other authorised person may shoot or capture any wild animal that

is a danger to human lives or property.