Sunbathing crocs a spectacular sight

0

A pair of crocodiles downriver of the Kuala Lawas ferry point, about 300 metres from another pair.

KUALA LAWAS: Crocodiles sunbathing on the mud banks of Lawas River near the ferry point in Kuala Lawas is a spectacular sight, drawing admiration both from visitors and a wary local community.

There has been no report of crocodile attacks in this stretch in the past, and the local community said the crocodiles love to sunbathe in this natural habitat without causing any disturbance.

The Borneo Post came across four wild crocodiles at about 9am last Sunday — two each on both banks — while using a ferry to cross to Kampung Patrikan from Lawas town.

The scene was also witnessed by the entourage of Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who were on their way to attend a flood aid presentation ceremony by Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiee Apdal.

“They don’t ‘kacau’ (disturb) us and vice-versa we don’t either,” locals there told The Borneo Post.

Awang Tengah is also a local boy from Kampung Dato in Kuala Lawas, who knows the area and the habitat there better than most people.

The crocodiles lazing in the sun on the mud bank during low tide were unfazed by the drone of the ferry crossings barely 200 metres away from their sun-bathing site.

This could be a potential tourist attraction although some members of the public are apprehensive of the appearance of the crocodiles in this traditional fishing ground of the local community.

All the four crocodiles are estimated to be over three metres in length, and locals said it was not uncommon to see crocodiles in this stretch near the river mouth.

However, crocodile attacks and their increasing population are matters of concern among riverine villagers, who remember a crocodile attack in Saribas last week, in which the victim survived.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) is keeping a keen eye on
their population and has undertaken a 3M educational programme to create greater public awareness of this great reptilian species.

A rich and healthy marine life is found in crocodile-infested waters and the health of a river system can be measured by the presence of crocodiles despite the reptiles being dangerous predators.

Crocodiles play a vital role in ensuring the health of the eco-system, eliminating sick animals and preventing the spread of diseases to other animals.

Fish and prawns with diseases are also taken out of the ecosystem as easy food for crocodiles.