Kota Kinabalu: A new integrated crocodile conflict mitigation and management project has been launched in Sabah to address rising interactions between people and saltwater crocodiles in rivers and waterways across the state.
The two-year project, running from February 2026 to February 2028, is led by the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) in collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department and funded by Yayasan Hasanah.
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DGFC’s Crocodile Conservation Officer Dr Sai Kerisha Kntayya, said the project combines physical risk-reduction measures, population monitoring, and public safety initiatives to reduce human–crocodile conflict while supporting long-term crocodile management.
Dr Sai, who is also, IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group Regional Vice-Chair added that removing or killing crocodiles does not reduce long-term risk, as it fails to address the root causes of human–crocodile interactions and may create a false sense of security.
A key feature of the project is the installation of a Crocodile Exclusion Enclosure (CEE) at Batu Putih along the Kinabatangan River, which provides a safer space for river-based activities where human use overlaps with crocodile presence.
The project also includes state-wide crocodile population monitoring to strengthen evidence-based management, building on surveys conducted between 2017 and 2019 and expanding coverage to three additional rivers along the West Coast due to increased sightings.
Community-based awareness programmes and new crocodile warning signage will promote safer behaviour and communicate risks clearly to residents and visitors at high-risk locations.
Sabah Wildlife Department Director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said the project adopts a community-centred approach, while DGFC Director cum Principal Investigator Dr Benoit Goossens, said combining physical measures, updated population data, and sustained public engagement aims to provide long-term solutions that balance crocodile conservation with human safety.
