An increase in the number of incidents with crocodiles is due to rapid development that took place along riverbanks that caused the expansion of creeks and felling of mangrove trees, which had disrupted habitats and sources of food, said a forestry official on Saturday.
Head of the Wildlife Division at the Forestry Department Haji Mohd Dinie bin Haji Mahadi said during a meeting with Kampong Ayer residents to address the issue, said the disruption to the crocodile habitats is why the public can frequently see the reptiles encroaching into areas where they are not normally found.
According to statistics, in 2023, 111 crocodile-related complaints were lodged and actioned on, with 42 crocodiles captured, compared to 68 complaints, 52 actions and 24 crocodiles captured in 2022.
In 2023, a majority of complaints were from Brunei-Muara District (53 per cent), while Belait came in second (29 per cent), followed by Tutong (13 per cent) and Temburong (five per cent).
The official also revealed that 51 active crocodile traps have been set up in Zone 1 and Zone 2 of Kampong Ayer since February, adding that six crocodiles had been captured so far.
Local community involvement
Haji Mohd Dinie meanwhile discussed the details of a community programme to help monitor crocodiles during the briefing with grassroots leaders. The programme calls for the appointment of a local community leader to be appointed in each catchment area to relay information to the department, adding that the programme will aid in the catching of crocodiles.
Meanwhile, he advised the public to stay at least three meters away from the river bank, not litter and keep pets away from riverbanks.
He also cautioned the public to be wary of waters that may potentially have crocodiles and to avoid camping activities and using small boats like kayaks, rafts and dinghies in those areas. He added that the public should avoid areas where crocodile warning signboards are placed as well as the reptiles’ nesting grounds and trap areas.
“Crocodiles are most active during the night, dusk and dawn periods as well as when it is raining. They will also move upstream during high-tide or floods,” he said.
The briefing and dialogue session was organised with the cooperation of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah mosque takmir committee. Representatives from the Royal Brunei Police Force and the Fire and Rescue Department as well as local grassroots leaders in Kampong Ayer were present.
The briefing aimed to raise awareness on the human-crocodile conflict and the role played by crocodiles in maintaining a well-balanced wildlife population and ecosystem. – James Kon
