By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 26: Crocodile management in Sarawak will be further strengthened with the help of crocodile experts, especially from Australia, South Africa and the United States.
Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said Sarawak would also be consulting the Crocodile Specialist Group from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on related matters.
He said the measures currently practiced by the Sarawak government are aimed at increasing crocodile sanctuaries throughout Sarawak for conservation and eco-tourism purposes, as well as having crocodile removal zones in place to ensure the safety of local residents.
Other than the collaboration with crocodile farm operators, he said the ministry also issues harvesting and hunting permits for wild crocodile harvesting and culling purposes.
“The Sarawak government through the SFC (Sarawak Forestry Corporation) will continue its efforts to manage the sustainability of the wild crocodile population,” said Awang Tengah during his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
For that purpose, he said SFC has come up with the Sarawak Crocodile Management Plan Phase One (2016-2020) based on three objectives namely to continue wild crocodile conservation efforts, strengthening harmony between crocodiles and humans, and studying the benefits of crocodiles sustainably. — DayakDaily
