By Sidi Munan
If we let them. We have many other sources of proteins, so it’s not necessary to look for protein which is not easily available. The crocs should confine their meals to prawns and fish but they include a morsel of us for good measure. This is not fair. Crocodile/human conflict There does not seem to be a détente nor is there a possibility of coexistence. The only option for both antagonists is to fight it out – for survival of each species. At the moment there is not an even playing field, though. The crocodiles in the State are being protected by human-made law, the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998.
Yes, they are; until and unless the wild life law is amended, the State Crocodiles are having more freedom to catch any human or animal without a second thought than a human has. You have to apply for permit from the Wild Life Warden in order to hunt a crocodile suspected of pulling your favourite cousin’s legs. It is an offence to do so without the warden’s permission.
Find for us a law that protects humans from being caught by crocodiles and that provides for monetary compensation for loss of life to a croc. Under the current law, the Warden as the custodian of the crocodiles is not liable in tort for the misdemeanour of his wards. Strange but true.
It’s good that the crocodiles in Sarawak have been moved from Appendix I to Appendix II in terms of the UN’s Convention On International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). However, take note that the removal from one list of totally protected wild life to another list of partially protected species at a meeting of experts in South Africa last year mainly deals with the sale and purchase or dealing in the meat or skin of the crocodiles in international market.
The next step in protecting humans from attacks in Sarawak is for the individual signatory (country) to CITES to adjust its laws and regulations relating to the method of culling of the crocs.
First thing first – the prevention or the reduction of human/ crocodile conflict. Then follows the commercialisation of the products from the reptile. In this respect, many aspects of the business will have to be considered – its economic viability (don’t forget about GST ( Gigit Sampai Tulang).
As I have been involved in verbal advocacy for the culling of crocodiles in Sarawak for the past decade, I wish to congratulate our experts in Sarawak for their success in South Africa in removing our crocodiles from being totally protected pedestal to their proper place at Appendix II. No one should shed tears for the vermin’s loss of immunity.
I understand that these experts are preparing the Standard Operating Procedure that will be followed once the road is clear for further culling and related activities. This whole exercise (SOP) may take time to finish as it may relate to other matters – amendments to the existing legislation and regulations. There is already a clear government policy on crocodiles in the State. That is good.
Meanwhile, let us listen to the advice given by the Daro assemblyman to the members of the Village Security and Development Committees in the state to issue warnings to the local residents especially those who live by the river, alerting the people on the presence or sightings of crocodiles. Residents who live along riverbanks to always be careful and to immediately report to the Sarawak Forest Department and other relevant agencies it they see dangerous reptile in their area.
If I may add, take photos of a crocodile and load it on to the FaceBook. And everybody alerts everybody else of the imminent danger! Heed also the advice from the Wild Life authorities.
Of course, this act of watching and being careful to avoid being caught by a crocodile is not enough.
What is required is an aggressive move led by the government to cull the vermin from our beloved rivers once and for all. This is where the Ketua Masyarakat can also exert their influence on their YBs and for the YBs to exert influence on the ministers to speed up the process including legislation of culling the crocodiles before the next life (a party supporter/voter) is lost to the enemy. Until then, we will have to resort to the myth: Don’t disturb the crocs and they do not disturb you.A unilateral detente of sorts. But don’t take this literally. The Crocodiles are not superstitious; they want to catch you for a meal. By last estimate, there were some 13,500 of them in many Sarawak rivers; there may be more since last count. We are losing our rivers to them!
For those whose relatives are the victims, who can bring back their loved ones? Nothing other than prayers for the souls departed. There is no law by which to investigate murder suspects and to prosecute any crocodile (the actual killer).
Even the evidence such as human hairs and bones found in the stomach of a suspect is not conclusive unless there’s a DNA profiling. Don’t bother the police with reports; they are too busy catching the landbased variety of the Crocodylus Porosus The real endangered species of homo sapiens are in Sarawak for as long as the law protecting the Porosus is not done away with fast.
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