A crocodile snatches a child to death in Kotabaru

Kotabaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A child, MM (12), died after being attacked by a crocodile in Pantai Village, Kelumpang Selatan Sub-district, Kotabaru District, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday around 19.00 Wita.

"After receiving resident's report, we immediately went to the location," said Kelumpang Selatan Sector Police Chief Iptu Agus Suyanto in Kotabaru, Thursday.

He recounted that the incident started when Samsudin and his son, MM, a five grade elementary school student, went to a fishpond that had a leak.

To repair the leak, Samsudin and MM threw themselves into the pond, but suddently a crocodile snatched the victim.

Seeeing the incident, Samsudin tried to help the child espace from the crocodile by slashing a machete at the crocodile, but the wild animal bit his finger and wrist.

"Then the crocodile immediately took the victim into the pond water and could no longer be seen," said Agus.

He said that officers found the body of the victim at around 21.30 Wita, then the body was evacuated usinga small motorized boat (klotok) and taken to the Pantai Village Community Health Center (puskesmas) for a post mortem, then immediately buried.

Meanwhile, Samsudin is still undergoing treatment at the puskesmas, for crocodile bite wounds on his right fingers and left wrist.

A Kotabaru Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) staff Aditia Rahman said that the agency has warned people to be very cautious being in the areas of river and lake where there are crocodiles.

"In addition, we also put up announcement of areas prone to crocodile attacks," said Aditia.

His sides acknowledged the limited space to evacuate crocodiles reported by residents.

"We don't have a place to accomodate crocodiles we evacuate. Usually we take them to Tanah Bumbu, but the shelter there is full," he said.

Based on information, residents often see crocodiles around the subdistricts of Kelumpang Selatan, Kelumpang Hilir, Kelumpang Hulu, Sungai Durian, in Kotabaru District.