Kota Kinabalu: City Hall (DBKK) through its Crocodile Threat Management Committee is committed to conducting crocodile monitoring operations in the waters around the city.
The committee, chaired by Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah, includes the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force and the Wildlife Department.
Since its official establishment on Jan 30 last year, two series of crocodile monitoring operations have been conducted.
The Crocodile Monitoring Operation in Kota Kinabalu Series 1/2024 was held from Feb 29 to March 1, 2025, with monitoring focused on Sungai Darau, Sungai Kalansanan and several identified “hotspot” areas.
The Crocodile Monitoring Operation in Kota Kinabalu Series 2/2024 was conducted from Aug 19 to 20, 2024, following viral social media reports about crocodile sightings near Tanjung Lipat beach.
Through the Series 1 monitoring operation, the committee identified locations with crocodile populations, namely Sungai Darau and the DBKK Depot Workshop.
Consequently, the Series 2 monitoring operation focused on Sungai Darau and rivers near the DBKK Depot Workshop. Follow-up operations will be held quarterly to monitor crocodile populations around the city.
The DBKK Crocodile Threat Management Committee is also conducting studies to estimate crocodile numbers in areas under DBKK’s jurisdiction, installing crocodile warning signs in areas identified as having crocodile presence, conducting scheduled monitoring operations and installing CCTV in hotspot areas.
DBKK remains committed to monitoring crocodile presence in waters around the city, including collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of residents remains a priority.
Members of the public with information regarding crocodile sightings around the city are advised to immediately report to authorities through the following emergency lines:
National Emergency Line: 999; Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM): 088-529222; Kota Kinabalu Fire Station: 088-210214/019-2445687; Wildlife Department: 088-213502; Sabah Civil Defence Force: 088-232440; Kota Kinabalu Civil Defence Force: 088-232453
Meanwhile, in SANDAKAN, a two-meter-long crocodile sighted in a drain along Jalan Seguntur, near a supermarket, was caught on Tuesday.
Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station Chief Severinus Sainkui said they received a call from a concerned citizen through the station’s hotline at 9.37am and a nine-member team was sent to the location 13km away.
He said the crocodile was handed over to the Wildlife Department for further action.
