SINGAPORE: Visitors to Pulau Ubin have been urged to exercise caution, after large crocodiles were recently spotted in the area.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has put up warning signs on the island advising members of the public to be cautious when they are near the water’s edge.
In a statement on April 1, NParks’ group director for wildlife management How Choon Beng said the board is aware of crocodile sightings in the vicinity of Pulau Ubin.
The sightings are likely to be of an estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which is known to be active in the Strait of Johor, How added.
According to the NParks website, the estuarine crocodile is the largest crocodile species in the world.
Also known as the saltwater crocodile, it can reach lengths of up to seven metres and is characterised by a long snout and a broad, muscular tail with ridges.
They feed mostly on fish, but their diet can also include mammals, birds and carrion. They can also move quickly over short distances, both in land and in water.
Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao on March 31 reported Pulau Ubin residents saying they had spotted the reptiles in the mangroves and swampy areas.
While there have been crocodile sightings on the island from time to time, these have become more frequent in the past month, they added.
One resident, identified as a 73-year-old fisherman, told the news outlet that he has seen them twice in the last month.
He said the first sighting happened while he was fishing for crabs near the mangroves, and that the crocodile was about five metres away from him.
He added that at least three or four people have also seen crocodiles at different locations, causing panic among residents.
How said NParks is monitoring the situation, and has shared advisories with stakeholders on measures to take when planning any water activities.
He advised the public to stay calm and back away if they encounter a crocodile.
“They should not approach, provoke or feed the animal,” he said. - The Straits Times/ANN
