KUCHING, Oct 15: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has warned residents of Stampin Resettlement Scheme here on the presence of crocodiles at the river in the area.
SFC will put up signage, while advising the public to be on the alert and take precautionary measures when near the river following the recent sighting of two crocodiles measuring 10 feet and 4 feet respectively.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaints Bureau chief Wilfred Yap said residents from Lorong 17Q of the Stampin Resettlement Scheme approached the bureau to request for assistance after the two reptiles were spotted in the nearby river.
The bureau immediately notified SFC on the issue for further action, after Yap and Kapitan Chai Yong Liang met up with residents to inspect and assess the situation.
“Officers from SFC advised the residents on the need for proper rubbish disposal and not to throw it into the river.
“They explained that as rubbish sometimes consists of food wrappings, packets and the like, crocodiles may eat these garbage and form the habit of waiting for people to dump their rubbish.
“When we throw rubbish, everything smells like food to a crocodile, especially rotten meat, and this will entice the reptile to move closer to the settlement area. For the crocodiles, the act of throwing rubbish into the river signifies feeding time,” Yap said in a statement today.
He reminded members of the public to notify the nearest SFC offices of crocodile sightings in their areas and not take matters into their own hands, as these reptiles are dangerous.
SFC hotlines are 019-8859996/016-8565564 (Kuching), 019-8190140/019-8894474 (Sibu), 019-8223449/019-8332737 (Bintulu) and 019-8224566/019-8290994 (Miri). — DayakDaily
