Crocs revolt

PITAS: The upper stretches of the Bengkoka river used to be a rich source for prawns and fish for those living upstream in Pitas, but of late even taking a bath in the river can turn out to be a dangerous affair.

Crocodiles, deprived of their natural food supply, have begun attacking human beings, and although there has been no deaths thus far, the villagers are now more careful each time they use the river.

The story replayed by Jamal Abdul Karim, and the scars that he bears on his leg, is testimony that the crocodiles of Bengkoka river have revolted and would now attack humans.

“As usual I was having my bath one evening when I felt a sharp pain in my leg and all of a sudden I was being dragged to the middle of the river,” Jamal described his duel with death some months ago.

“Frightened as I was, I put up a struggle with all my might. It was a life and death situation. I was pulled underwater three times and all of a sudden I was free.

“I quickly swam to the riverbank and sought help,” said the villager who has since helped the authorities catch some of the crocodiles from the river.

Another villager, Mohd Lahab Enul said the Bengkoka river was home to many crocodiles even way back, but there were never any reports of the reptiles attacking human beings.

“We assume that the river is getting shallow and it is harder for them to survive as the fish and prawns that we used to get in plentiful supply have now dwindled,” he said.

A source who asked not to be named said the crocodiles are also being badly affected by polluted waters; fertilisers washed into the river from plantations have killed off the staple food of the crocodiles.

“Crocodiles often stay clear of human beings but when their sources of food is affected, they will look for alternatives and this is when it can get dangerous for humans using the rivers to bath or wash clothes,’ she said.

It is estimated that there are some 2,000 crocodiles in the Bengkoka river.

Following the villagers complaints, the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Pitas District Office took action by setting baited traps at various strategic locations along the river.

Over the past five months, at least 10 reptiles have been caught. These were first sent to the Crocodile Farm in Tuaran before being moved to their permanent home at the Lok Kawi Zoo.