KOTA KINABALU – Videos and pictures of a saltwater crocodile in the city circulating on social media have caught the attention of Sabahans.
Videos taken by the public show a crocodile in a monsoon drain near the State Archives building and the popular Taman Ujana Rimba Tropika park, and a later video shows the animal in a nearby housing estate at night.
The state Wildlife Department said attempts have been made to capture the estimated 1.2m-long reptile using baited traps.
“We have been unable to capture the crocodile because it refused to enter the baited trap the Wildlife Department staff set. However, we are still monitoring the situation,” said director Augustine Tuuga.
The monsoon drain, which is linked to the coast a few kilometres away, has its fair share of crocodile sightings, including a small one that was captured in 2015.
Crocodiles have also been sighted and captured in several other areas in and around the city, including in the Sabah Sports Complex lake and Likas Lagoon, in the past.
If caught, Augustine said the crocodile will be sold to a farm.
“We cannot release it into other rivers as the public will be upset. Sadly, many mangrove areas have been developed into housing areas, so the crocodiles are losing their habitat.” – The Vibes, January 5, 2021
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