(MY) DNA tests on croc

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Wednesday October 4, 2006-The Star

 

DNA tests on hair in crocodile

 

*KUCHING:* DNA tests will be carried out on the strands of hair and a piece

of underwear found in the stomach of a crocodile caught here on Monday.

 

Sarawak Forestry officials could not confirm yet if the 200kg reptile,

measuring 5.5m, was the one that ate Year Six pupil Mohd Azuan Hatta in

Sungai Bako on Sept 3.

 

Chief wildlife warden Wilfred Landong said the DNA tests could determine if

the hair and underwear belonged to Mohd Azuan.

 

Mohd Azuan's parents are also trying to determine if the underwear belonged

to him.

 

The reptile was dissected after it was sent to the Matang Wildlife Centre.

 

So far, four crocodiles had been caught after Sarawak Forestry issued a

permit to hunt and kill the protected species following Mohd Azuan's death.

 

 

But the department has now ordered a stop to all killing of crocodiles.

 

" All the hooks and traps laid in Sungai Bako by villagers have been

retrieved, " said Landong.

 

Responding to criticisms on Sarawak Forestry's handling of the case, Landong

said the hunting operations were guided by the Wildlife Protection Ordinance

and conservation protocols.

 

On why bomohs were used in the search, he said it was in accordance with the

wishes of the victim's family and other affected parties.

 

Landong said Sarawak Forestry would talk to agencies, non-governmental

organisations and the community on managing the crocodile population in

Bako.

 

He said a survey showed that there were an estimated 2.3 crocodiles per km

in the* *20km-long Sungai Bako.

 

Landong said there were several crocodile hotspots here, including Sungai

Santubong, Sungai Buntal, Sungai Salak and in Sarawak Mangrove (part of the

Kuching Wetland National Park).

 

 

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Wednesday October 4, 2006

 

NGOs want croc hunt in Kuching stopped

 

*KUALA LUMPUR: *Two non-governmental organisations want the crocodile hunt

in Kuching to stop.

 

It began after an attack on a 12-year-old boy.

 

Describing the hunt as barbaric, Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Kuching

branch chairman June Mary Rubis urged the authorities to permanently put a

stop to such hunts.

 

Such hunts have been common practice since the Brooke era.

 

" It is a sad thing. There could be other ways to avoid crocodile-human

confrontations such as creating more awareness among the public on the

crocodile, " she said.

 

Furthermore, she said, humans were not part of the reptile's natural diet.

 

 

Her call was supported by Malaysian Zoological Society vice-chairman Dr Loo

Koi Sang, who said crocodiles were harmless creatures that would run away

when they detected humans.

 

He said no crocodile should be killed as it was a protected species under

the Wildlife Act. – Bernama