Kota Kinabalu: Public awareness and behavioural change are key to reducing crocodile attacks in Sabah, experts say, warning that enforcement alone is not the answer.
Crocodile experts at Danau Girang Field Centre said despite increased sightings in urban areas, the attacks occur in rivers in rural areas not at sea, often when people swim, fish or wash at the same spots repeatedly.
“Swimming in rivers is dangerous by itself. Crocodiles observe patterns. If you go to the same place every day, they learn,” said DGFC’s crocodile conservation officer Sai Kerisha Kntayya.
She said that attacks are rarely spontaneous and therefore avoidable if people were more aware.
Crocodiles often exhibit territorial behaviour or predation and watch their potential prey before attacks.
“The most obvious solution is to avoid being in waters with a known crocodile,” she said.
In popular urban recreational areas like Tanjung Aru beach and Likas Bay where they have been spotted, it was advisable for authorities to close the area to swimming for a few days as the reptiles are unlikely to stay in such areas for long.
“They don’t typically live by the sea and are most likely moving between big waterways like rivers and have stopped for a few days. Here they are unlikely to attack humans but it is best to avoid being in the water.
“In Australia which have the highest population of crocodiles in the world, coast guards or high watch out points would be an effective measure to counter such appearances. Crocodiles are easy to spot in open sea.
“The watch guards can also be on the lookout for other troubles such as potential drowning victims or other marine threats like jellyfish,” said DGFC director Benoit Goossens
In Sabah, attacks happen in more rural and suburban areas where people have activities by the sea, and this requires more management.
“Avoiding the river in this case is less feasible and we need to increase public awareness of how to avoid conflicts,” said Sai Kerisha.
- Avoid entering large bodies of water, especially where waters are murky. Crocodiles are near undetectable underwater.
- Do not visit and hang out in the same areas, for fishing, washing or bathing. Patterns makes one especially attractive as targets. Crocodiles are territorial and predatory animals and will often stalk their prey before attacks.
- Keep surroundings clean as waste and rubbish are food for prey species. Leaving food waste nearby will attract animals which will also attract crocodiles.
- Watch for signs such as tracks on banks, bubbles or disturbed land banks.
- After floods, stay away from waterways as crocodiles may be displaced from rivers and may be wandering.
She said that current practice of capturing and kill crocodiles does not reduce long-term risk or improve safety in river systems, as such actions do not address the underlying causes of human–crocodile interactions and may create a false sense of security.
Instead, she advocated monitoring, warning signage, public education and better waste management.
For authorities, she said culling should be a last resort, with greater focus on prevention and education.
