By Shalina R.
Villagers who ‘slaughtered’ crocodile identified – SWD
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) has identified villagers who recently made ‘pusas’ (finger food) out of a crocodile at Kampung Dungkahang in Penampang.
SWD director Augustine Tuuga, when revealing this to The Borneo Post here yesterday, said the villagers should have contacted SWD upon discovery of the wildlife for relocation.
He said SWD yesterday launched an investigation into the crocodile, which was flushed out into the residential area during the recent flash flood there, is against the law as crocodiles are protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
He elaborated, if found guilty, an accused faces a fine of not less than RM30,000 but not exceeding RM100,000 or between six month and three years of imprisonment, or both.
“(We have) identified the people involved in the video,” said Tuuga, referring to the video recording of the killing that had gone viral on social media and WhatsApp since June 1.
“People there are blaming it on a crocodile farm nearby. Could have escaped from the farm,” he added.
SWD’s Dr Sen Nathan, who is currently on sabbatical, told the Borneo Post yesterday that the crocodile in the video looks around four to five years old.
He said it is a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), also known as the estuarine crocodile, IndoPacific crocodile.
“I believe this is in Kampung Dungkahang, Penampang. People cannot just take the law into their own hand. Respect the rule of law (sic),” he commented on a Danau Girang Field Centre Facebook posting condemning the slaughter of a crocodile on June 1.