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Leistenkrokodile in Sarawak: Treffen endlich positive politische Entscheidungen?
Dr Rayong suggests culling to reduce croc numbers – BorneoPost Online
by Churchill Edward, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 12, 2012, Thursday
Dr Johnical Rayong
KUCHING: Periodical and sustainable harvesting of wild crocodiles in Sarawak will ensure that the reptile will not become extinct, says Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong.
Besides, culling should be allowed at crocodile-infested rivers, he said when asked whether he preferred culling of crocodiles over any other methods to reduce the population of crocodiles in the state.
The two latest cases of crocodile attacks should be reason enough to make culling a priority over other method to address the problem, he said.
“If culling is approved the local people would stand to benefit from sale of skin and meat. The culling season could also be turned into a cottage industry, export industry and a tourist attraction,” he said when met after receiving a courtesy call from SPDP Muara Tuang Division delegation here yesterday.
Reports of crocodile attacks in the state are almost a common occurrence of late.
Earlier this month, 55-year-old Drahman Chali was killed by a crocodile while washing his hands at a river in Pusa.
In June, a woman from Saratok, Siah Monsung —– the wife of Tuai Rumah Embol Asom was attacked and devoured by a 12-foot crocodile while washing at Sungai Anak in Pelunga Roban.
According to Sarawak Forestry Corporation, the number of crocodiles in Bako River was also believed to have doubled in the last 30 years with an average of six crocodiles per 10km of river.
Dr Rayong went on to say that he even mentioned the culling of crocodiles at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in 2010 and subsequently made several public statements on it.
“The opposition laughed at me when I mentioned it in the house — that the population of crocodiles has increased over the years and their sheer number has posed danger to human life, especially at the rivers in my constituency,” he said.
He said that crocodiles were so numerous in some places that they could be easily spotted at night by villagers.
In August 2011, Dr Rayong called for the culling of crocodiles in the wild even though it was subject to criticisms from animal conservation groups.
He even advised Parent-Teacher Associations to install wire fencing to secure sections of the rivers where people usually wash or collect water to thwart crocodile attacks. But sometimes wire fencing were damaged by crocodiles, he pointed out.
Dr Rayong said among the rivers in Sarawak with a big population of crocodiles were Batang Lupar, Batang Ai and Batang Skrang. In Engkilili the most crocodile-infested rivers were Sungai Batang Ai Ili and Sungai Skrang Ili which were tributaries of Batang Lupar.
by Churchill Edward, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 12, 2012, Thursday
Dr Johnical Rayong
KUCHING: Periodical and sustainable harvesting of wild crocodiles in Sarawak will ensure that the reptile will not become extinct, says Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong.
Besides, culling should be allowed at crocodile-infested rivers, he said when asked whether he preferred culling of crocodiles over any other methods to reduce the population of crocodiles in the state.
The two latest cases of crocodile attacks should be reason enough to make culling a priority over other method to address the problem, he said.
“If culling is approved the local people would stand to benefit from sale of skin and meat. The culling season could also be turned into a cottage industry, export industry and a tourist attraction,” he said when met after receiving a courtesy call from SPDP Muara Tuang Division delegation here yesterday.
Reports of crocodile attacks in the state are almost a common occurrence of late.
Earlier this month, 55-year-old Drahman Chali was killed by a crocodile while washing his hands at a river in Pusa.
In June, a woman from Saratok, Siah Monsung —– the wife of Tuai Rumah Embol Asom was attacked and devoured by a 12-foot crocodile while washing at Sungai Anak in Pelunga Roban.
According to Sarawak Forestry Corporation, the number of crocodiles in Bako River was also believed to have doubled in the last 30 years with an average of six crocodiles per 10km of river.
Dr Rayong went on to say that he even mentioned the culling of crocodiles at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in 2010 and subsequently made several public statements on it.
“The opposition laughed at me when I mentioned it in the house — that the population of crocodiles has increased over the years and their sheer number has posed danger to human life, especially at the rivers in my constituency,” he said.
He said that crocodiles were so numerous in some places that they could be easily spotted at night by villagers.
In August 2011, Dr Rayong called for the culling of crocodiles in the wild even though it was subject to criticisms from animal conservation groups.
He even advised Parent-Teacher Associations to install wire fencing to secure sections of the rivers where people usually wash or collect water to thwart crocodile attacks. But sometimes wire fencing were damaged by crocodiles, he pointed out.
Dr Rayong said among the rivers in Sarawak with a big population of crocodiles were Batang Lupar, Batang Ai and Batang Skrang. In Engkilili the most crocodile-infested rivers were Sungai Batang Ai Ili and Sungai Skrang Ili which were tributaries of Batang Lupar.