DBKK STEPS UP CROCODILE MONITORING IN KOTA KINABALU - MAYOR

KOTA KINABALU, March 17 (Bernama) -- Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has intensified monitoring of crocodile populations in Sungai Darau near the DBKK Depot Workshop and other hotspot areas.

Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah, who heads the Crocodile Threat Management Committee, DBKK had also received reports of crocodile sighting in the sea near the Tanjung Lipat beach that had gone viral on social media.

“The monitoring is conducted in collaboration with various agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), the Sabah Civil Defence Force (APM), and the Wildlife Department (JHL),” he said in a statement tonight.

Sabin said the committee, established on Jan 30, 2024, had conducted a series of crocodile monitoring operations, with the first held from Feb 29 to March 1 last year in Sungai Darau, Sungai Kalansanan, and several identified hotspot areas.

He said the second operation was carried out from Aug 19 to 20 last year following reports of crocodiles sighted in the sea near Tanjung Lipat beach.

“The committee has also taken proactive steps, including conducting a study to estimate the crocodile population in areas under DBKK’s purview, installing warning signs in high-risk locations, and setting up closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in hotspot areas,” he said.

Those with information on crocodile sightings around Kota Kinabalu City are urged to report them immediately to the authorities via the emergency hotline.

Meanwhile, the Kota Kinabalu APM, in a Facebook post, said it was monitoring the Tanjung Aru Beach area with JHL following the sighting of a crocodile measuring about 1.5 metres long.

“So far, JHL has fired two shots at the crocodile, but it evaded capture and escaped,” it said.

--BERNAMA