Sampit, C Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Sampit Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) in Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, warned locals on Saturday to stay alert about the sightings of crocodiles at the start of this year's rainy season.
The end of the dry season and the start of the rainy season become the crocodile nesting season. Therefore, the agency's commanding officer, Muriansyah, underscored the need for people to be more cautious about crocodile sightings.
Over this past week, the BKSDA received several reports of crocodile sightings in the Mentaya River from residents of villages such as Ramban in Mentaya Hilir Utara Sub-district, and Terantang in Seranau Sub-district.
Speaking to local journalists here, Muriansyah further revealed that the residents more frequently reported crocodile sightings to the BKSDA since the end of September 2024 as the rainy season has begun.
During the crocodile nesting season, he remarked that these semiaquatic reptiles are more often spotted in the river, thereby raising the likelihood of triggering occurrences of human-crocodile conflict.
As part of the prevention efforts, he urged locals, especially those living along the river bank, to exercise greater caution and vigil about the situation by not venturing into the river at dawn and night.
In addition, he advised residents to abstain from raising livestock above the river water and throwing animal carcasses and garbage into the river as these activities potentially attract crocodiles.
Crocodile attacks have been reported in different parts of Indonesia over the years. In February 2019, a fisherman lost an arm in a crocodile attack in the Seranggas River, Central Kalimantan.
On April 8, 2020, a saltwater crocodile snatched and ate a six-year-old boy swimming near a beach in Buru District, Maluku. The local marine police then shot the four-meter-long crocodile using an SS1 V5 rifle.
The Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) recorded 11 crocodile attacks in different rivers around East Kotawaringin District in 2020. However, the attacks did not result in any fatalities.
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Translator: Devita M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
