KOTA KINABALU (ANN/THE STAR) – Animal rights advocates are urgently calling for an immediate halt to the culling of crocodiles in Sabah.
This plea follows the recent revelation by Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) director Augustine Tuuga on Thursday, stating that the state has initiated a culling operation in areas identified as hotspots to mitigate the potential threat of crocodile attacks on humans.
Expressing dismay over these actions, Rajesh Nagarajan, a representative from Lawyers for Animal Rights, conveyed their shock at the reported ‘spree’ orchestrated by SWD and other state entities, resulting in the demise of 32 crocodiles in Sabah.
Nagarajan emphasised the contradiction, pointing out that the very department entrusted with safeguarding wild animals, the Sabah Wildlife Department, is paradoxically involved in the lethal measures against these creatures.
This development has sparked concern and criticism from advocates who assert the need for more humane and ethical approaches to wildlife management and coexistence.
“How does this make sense?” he asked in a statement.
“Any crocodiles that may endanger human lives should be immediately caught and translocated as what is usually done in most countries around the world,” said Rajesh.
He asked why instead of progressively catching crocodiles on a regular basis, the SWD decided to go on an occasional cull?
“We demand that the killing of crocodiles be halted immediately,” he said.
He asked for the SWD to carry out the task entrusted to them in protecting wildlife and not take the easy way out of killing these animals.
On Thursday, Tuuga has said that they were acting on the directive of the state government and this was one way to reduce risk of attacks.
