By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 2: Sarawak will not subsidise crocodile hunters for now despite concerns over rising costs and increasing safety risks, but the government may review its stance in the future as part of broader efforts to manage the State’s growing crocodile population.
Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh said hunting permits are currently issued on a voluntary and commercial basis, with no financial assistance provided by the State.
“At the moment, we do not provide any allocation for those who apply for permits.
“Most permit holders do so voluntarily because they are interested in trading crocodile skin or meat, which they can commercialise or export,” he told reporters during a doorstep interview after attending Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak’s (TEGAS) first-ever Media Appreciation Night in the city centre here last night (Oct 1).
While more than 70 permits have been issued so far, only a handful are active, with many permit holders citing high operational costs as a reason for pulling out.
Len Talif did not rule out the possibility of reviewing the policy in the future, particularly as crocodile encounters continue to pose a risk to communities that depend on rivers for their livelihoods.
“In the future, we may have to look into it. Currently, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has a specific budget for crocodile removal and culling activities.
“However, we do not publicise these operations because some members of the public consider them a form of animal cruelty,” he stressed.
Sarawak’s legal framework already allows crocodile hunting after the species was downgraded from Appendix I to Appendix II under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), enabling permit holders to hunt and trade crocodile products.
However, cultural taboos among many Bumiputera communities, including Malay, Melanau, Iban and Bidayuh, continue to discourage hunting activities.
Beyond private hunting, SFC continues to carry out population control measures, including relocation and targeted culling in hotspot areas, although such operations are kept low-profile.
The State is also working with international experts, including from Australia, to strengthen management strategies, while public reporting tools such as the CrocWatch app are used to track sightings and alert communities. – DayakDaily
