Kota Kinabalu: A crocodile was sighted about 100 metres from the Tanjung Aru Beach Lifeguard Tower in Kota Kinabalu at about 7.50am on Sunday.
In a Facebook post, the Kota Kinabalu Civil Defence Force said the reptile was spotted by beach rescue personnel conducting a routine survey of conditions in the waters off the Tanjung Aru Beach.
Upon noticing the crocodile, lifeguards immediately alerted visitors in the area and advised them to refrain from entering the water temporarily for safety reasons.
Several personnel also moved towards the location in an attempt to capture the animal but it disappeared before they could do so.
The Civil Defence Force said a red flag has been raised at the lifeguard tower as a danger warning while monitoring continues and the public is advised to avoid water activities at Tanjung Aru Beach until further notice.
On March 18, last year, Daily Express reported a reptile was sighted in Tanjung Aru beach earlier on the same day, prompting immediate action by wildlife officers to eliminate the potential threat by shooting at the crocodile at 2pm on March 16.
Sabah Wildlife Department Director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said however, as of 3pm Monday (March 17), the carcass has yet to be located.
“Personnel from the Civil Defence Force (APM) and the Wildlife Department were on high alert and still monitoring and inspecting the area,” he said, adding the search will continue until the carcass is found.
