Sabah hoping to strike balance between crocodile conservation, safety

SABAH hopes to strike a balance between the conservation of crocodiles and safety of the communities, acknowledging the crucial role of the reptiles in the ecosystem.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said at the same time, the presence of crocodiles in the wild also threatens the safety and livelihood of the people.

“For generations, crocodiles have been feared as a threat to human life and livelihood. Yet, it is imperative to acknowledge their pivotal role in maintaining the health of our ecosystem and as a potential source for improving our local communities’ livelihoods.

“It is clear that there is a significant gap in our society’s understanding of the growing conflict between humans and crocodiles.

“Action and a platform are needed to bridge these gaps, educate and raise awareness,” Liew said in the closing of the Managing Crocodile-Human Conflict Workshop in Kota Kinabalu, today.

Crocodiles deter fish and marine animals from overcrowding and degrading the ecosystem. They also guard critical water points against terrestrial animals and help preserve marine life for future regeneration.

But Sabah has reported an increase in the number of crocodile sightings and attacks in recent years – the urgency of the issue saw it brought to the state assembly for debates.

Liew has expressed hope that the workshop – which involved experts from the Member of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Crocodile Specialist Group Australia Charile Manolis, as well as senior state officers from the Wildlife Department, Danau Girang Field Centre – would assist Sabah to “chart a course” to strike that balance.

“Drawing inspiration from successful strategies implemented in Sarawak and valuable insights shared by the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group, we are equipped with the knowledge needed to develop tailored solutions for Sabah.

“Looking into the outcome of this workshop, the Sabah state government will carefully review and consider the recommendations put forth in this workshop as a concise plan for mitigating human-crocodile conflict in Sabah,” she said.

Meanwhile, Liew has pointed out the present solution to manage the crocodile population by issuing hunting licences has minimal uptake or interest among hunters and, as a result, Sabah is without any downstream products. – May 13, 2024