KOTA KINABALU – A 5-metre crocodile was caught by the Civil Defence Department along with the help of local residents at a village in Papar near here last night.
The giant reptile was first spotted about a week ago by local residents of Kg Nagapas but many were afraid to come close to it.
Local resident Richard Limbang said villagers saw the crocodile again yesterday evening and called the Civil Defence Force.
He said the reptile was captured about 100 metres from where it was last spotted.
“The moment the Civil Defence Force’s men arrived, residents also began to gather, taking along with them items like ropes to trap the animal.
“Efforts to catch the crocodile were tough as it was big and aggressive,” he said when contacted today.
“However, after an hour of struggling to capture the beast, they managed to subdue the animal.”
The crocodile was then brought to the Wildlife Department and an inspection found the reptile to be about 5m long and close to 700 kg.
This is the second capture of a giant crocodile in Sabah this year. On June 12, villagers at a water village near Pulau Gaya also spotted a 4m crocodile swimming in the sea near their area and managed to capture the animal. – The Vibes, September 21, 2021
