MELAKA – People living along the coastline of Melaka are still mystified and wary about crocodiles that have been sighted, especially one seen in the sea near the popular beach of Pantai Siring, which went viral a few months ago.
However, as there have been no recent reports of the saltwater crocodiles, known locally as “buaya tembaga” in Malay, being spotted of late, the surge of visitors has returned while local residents keep their fingers crossed.
Pantai Siring is a small fishing village near the Merlimau district. The scenic site used to be one of the most overlooked spots for tourists, but the beach there has been bustling with activity again since the completion of some renovation work and the construction of an embankment.
Last July, the state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) confirmed that several saltwater crocodiles use the beach to get to their habitat at the estuaries of the river there.
Berita Harian reported Perhilitan state director Mohd Firrdhaus Mahmood as saying that those conducting activities such as kayaking and fishing in the area must take precautionary measures to avoid collisions with the reptile species.
A video of one saltwater crocodile had gone viral then, igniting alarm and concern among residents and tourists alike.
Rakaman video orang awam menunjukkan kehadiran buaya di Pantai Siring, Merlimau, Melaka yang membimbangkan penduduk khususnya pemancing di sekitar kawasan itu.#pantaisiring #melaka pic.twitter.com/m39yMOeGbf
— Melakahariini (@Melakahariini) July 8, 2022
When met by The Vibes, a married couple, Aiman Haziq and Siti Aisyah, who have been living in a nearby village for the last 30 years, said they also heard about a crocodile at Pantai Siring and sightings of it, but added that the speculations have since subsided.
“Maybe the crocodile emerged due to the heavy rain, but we never saw any crocodiles at this beach since,” said Aiman, who added that folk in the area remain vigilant nonetheless.
An elderly lady named Siti Fatimah, 67, who owns a store locally, said that she had heard that there were crocodiles on the beach before. However, there has not been much talk about the matter and people have started coming as usual, she noted.
Fatimah also mentioned that many people visit the beach on weekends and public holidays, enabling her to earn well during such holiday periods despite looming concerns about the crocodiles.
Abu Sidek, 38, a young fisherman, said that he had heard about the crocodile issue but has never seen one himself because he had only been working here for two years.
There is a local fishing village nearby and a fisherman’s jetty where the public can hire a boat service to go fishing in the sea.
There are also scattered fishing vessels and a few private floating wharfs or offshore platforms called “kelong” made mostly of wood found in the waters that can be rented for short stays.
In the late afternoons, the beach is often crowded with families who enjoy the natural ambience and breeze, as well as the food stalls in the nearby area. The shady picnic spots and refreshment stalls are another big attraction at Pantai Siring.
The beach, which is famed for its pristine condition despite being situated near an urban area, boasts of breathtaking views at sunset.
Some people who came to the beach attested to this, saying that they were there to see the sunset and enjoy the food sold there by hawkers with their families.
According to them, they said that they were not certain about the crocodile issue, but so far nothing untoward has happened. – The Vibes, December 19, 2022
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