Kampung Reban folk vow to hunt killer crocodile

KUCHING: Apparently the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) was not aware of the hunting and killing of crocodiles in Batang Samarahan, following the killing of a man from Kampung Reban, Serian by the reptile last year.

It was reported that so far three crocodiles had been killed since the fatal attack on the 66-year-old victim, identified as Sidi Samad, while fishing for prawns on December 18.

It was also said that the villagers had vowed to continue their hunt for the crocodile that mauled and devoured the elderly man, even if they have to kill each and every crocodile in Batang Samarahan.

So far they have caught three and disemboweled them except that it was unclear if they had captured the correct man-eater.

SFC when contacted yesterday was greatly shocked when informed about the hunting and killing of the protected reptiles.


“Do you have the evidence of the hunting?”


Its senior officer said to The Borneo Post in disbelief, who understood that such reaction was natural for anyone with a duty to protect and conserve endangered wildlife and in this case the crocodiles.

Obviously he was not suspecting that the villagers would go all out to hunt down the killer crocodile even to the extent of executing the innocent ones, especially when a licence was required even for the capture of crocodiles.

To hunt, capture or kill any protected animal is illegal under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance where offenders can be charged in court and are subject to penalty.

Nevertheless, under the present circumstances, it was unclear whether those responsible for the execution of the crocodiles in Batang Samarahan would be facing any action from the authority concerned.

SFC also could not reveal whether any license was ever issued to the villagers to hunt, capture and kill the man-eater crocodile in Batang Samarahan.

Whatever it is, the hunting had been condemned by environmentalists, saying that the hunt should stop because the tragedy was not the crocodile’s fault.

Here it was about who to blame. Should the blame be on humans or the reptiles, with some people saying that crocodiles would only attack people to defend themselves while others said that animals were always animals, with some known to be notorious in nature.

Some studies on the characteristics and behaviours of crocodiles however, revealed that crocodiles would not harm humans unless they were hungry or being threatened.

In the recent case, it was however, not established whether the crocodile had mauled the victim because it was desperate for food or its habitat had been ‘encroached’.

But both are equally possible because after most areas near the river banks were cleared for development there were also less wild animals for crocodiles to feed on
and when desperately looking for food, they will feed on any meat that they can find.

On the other hand, it could also be possible that the crocodile had behaved notoriously when it sensed that its territory had been intruded, although there was never any intention on the part of the human being to disturb them.

However, animals are always animals. There will not be a time that they can think like human beings and in many cases even man also could not judge between right and wrong.


January 4, 2011, Tuesday Borneo Post

Foreign worker killed by crocodile

POSING DANGER TO VILLAGERS: A large crocodile sunning itself along the bank of the Baram River.

MARUDI: A foreign worker attached to a timber camp near Kuala Tutoh was killed by a crocodile recently.
The police and Fire and Rescue Department here confirmed receiving reports of the man’s tragic demise. Residents in the Baram area still live in the shadow of crocodile attacks.

Crocodiles are often seen lying on riverbanks in the area and sometimes even approach villagers on jetties.

Longhouse folk along the Baram, Tinjar and Bakong rivers depend very much on stream or river water for washing and bathing. Young children, in particular, often play games by the river and this has proven to be dangerous.

Residents hope the authorities concerned would monitor the situation to prevent further attacks in future.

They are also upset that the authorities have investigated residents who killed crocodiles.

This included a resident of a longhouse at Sg Temiang in Lower Bakong, who caught a 20-foot crocodile several years ago.

The man was later interviewed by the authorities and this upset local folk who believe their lives are more important than those of the reptiles.

Borneo Post 15/7/2011

Croc attack in Sungai Skrang?

TRAGIC: Jefferyson’s remains before being sent to Sri Aman District Hospital for a post-mortem.

SKRANG: Villager Jefferyson Sali, 26, of Rumah Jangin, Kejemut, Skrang, could have been a victim of a crocodile attack in Sungai Skrang on Saturday.

His remains, which were recovered at Tabut, Skrang, at about 8am yesterday, showed two of his legs were broken, a gaping wound on his right thigh and scratch marks on various parts of his body.

Skrang police station chief Sgt Rasit Bunya said the deceased was found

floating some 3km from where he was believed attacked by the ferocious animal at about 5.30pm on Saturday.

His remains had been sent to the Sri Aman District Hospital for a post-mortem.

Rasit said prior to the incident, the victim was bathing near the Sungai Skrang jetty with another friend, but his friend left earlier.

However, when his friend realised that Jefferyson had not returned to the longhouse later in the evening, he rushed to the jetty to look for him but Jefferyson was nowhere to be found.

A search operation was immediately mounted.

Posted on May 30, 2011, Monday

2010 Sarawak Croc Attack

Body parts of croc victim found floating in river

Some parts of crocodile victim Sidi Samad were found floating near his house located beside the bank of Batang Samarahan yesterday.

Two days after the victim was reported missing by his family, the search and rescue (SAR) team is still trying to locate the rest of his body.

As of press time yesterday, only the left arm and chest-to-waist portion of the 66-year-old had surfaced in the river.

The family insisted on burying the parts found despite no confirmation of Sidi’s death.

The community leader has to certify his death in order to proceed for documents required by the relevant department.

Sidi was last seen leaving his house to fish in a small sampan at Kampung Reban around 7am on Friday.

Kampung Reban – home to some 160 villagers mainly involved in farming – is located along the croc-infested bank of Batang Samarahan.

December 20, 2010, Monday

Crocodile carcass stirs up town

GRUESOME SURPRISE: The heavily bloated 10-foot-long crocodile which was spotted on Tuesday 27/7/2010.


SRI AMAN: A huge crocodile which struck fear among Sri Aman folk was believed to have gone to see its maker


The carcass of a 10-foot crocodile which floated by the Sungai Batang Lupar wharf in Engkilili on Tuesday morning drew a huge crowd and wide speculations.

Townsfolk believe the crocodile was the same one which used to ‘play’ at Batang Lupar river near the Chinese cemetery.

According to a witness, when spotted, the massive crocodile – two feet in width – was already heavily bloated and rancid. He said the carcass was believed to have been swept down with the tide Tuesday night.

According to a farmer from Engkilili, the crocodile could be the one that attacked an elderly man last year.

He said the 70-year-old man’s leg was tugged by the man-eater when he was bathing in the river.

However, he managed to escape with minor injuries, said the farmer.

“I believe that the dead crocodile was the one which attacked the old man,” said the farmer.

Borneo Post 30/7/2010

BP June 28, 2010, Monday : Spaoh - Budak maut dibaham buaya

BETONG: Seorang murid Tahun Empat Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sebemban, Spaoh maut dibaham buaya ketika sedang memancing di tebing Sungai Kampung Sebemban, Spaoh, di sini sekitar jam 4 petang kelmarin (Sabtu).
Jurucakap polis daripada Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Betong ketika dihubungi memberitahu mangsa yang maut dibaham buaya petang kelmarin dikenali sebagai Mohd Azroy Juti.

“Mangsa pada ketika itu dipercayai sedang bermain bersama rakan-rakannya sambil memancing ikan di sekitar kawasan tebing Sungai Kampung Sebemban, Spaoh.

“Ketika sedang leka bermain dan memancing di sungai berkenaan, seekor buaya tiba-tiba muncul dan menyeret mangsa ke dalam sungai berkenaan,” katanya sambil menambah bahawa mangsa timbul semula di sungai setelah diterkam buaya berkenaan.

Pihak polis kemudiannya menurut beliau, terus bertindak melancarkan gerakan mencari dan menyelamat setelah menerima laporan berhubung kes berkenaan di Balai Polis Betong.

Mayat mangsa yang dikenali dengan panggilan Lasu di kalangan rakan-rakannya telah berjaya ditemui oleh pihak polis sekitar jam 10 malam tadi di kawasan berdekatan dengan tebing sungai kampung berkenaan.

“Mayat mangsa kemudiannya dihantar ke Hospital Betong untuk tujuan bedah siasat sebelum dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Seruai, Spaoh pada pagi hari ini (semalam),” katanya.