Croc population control involves removal, not culling — SFC

KUCHING: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) says it prefers that people not use the term ‘culling' when it comes to efforts to control the population of crocodiles in Sarawak.

“The better term to use would be ‘removal' of crocodiles from crocodile-infested rivers to another place,” said an SFC spokesperson when contacted yesterday.

The spokesman was asked to respond to the call by Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil that some crocodiles in Bakong River in Miri should be culled in view of the increasing number of attacks on people there, and to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

The Marudi assemblyman made the remarks after the latest crocodile attack on 56year-old Mangku Sulo, a resident of Rumah Penghulu Benang in Marudi, when he went fishing in the river with five other villagers on Sunday.

Mangku survived the attack even though he suffered 12cmlong cuts on his right foot. He is recuperating in Miri Hospital.

The SFC spokesperson added Penguang is entitled to his own opinion, being a former senior personnel of the Forest Department and one who should also know where to get statistics and details.

"The Forest Department is the one issuing permits for commercial purpose in the removal of problematic and rogue ones (crocodiles). Then the SFC's SWAT (Swift Wildlife Action Team) will do the ground operations. For SFC, the term 'culling' has never been used before," the spokesperson said.