Worker finds ‘child’s toy’ in Kuala Nerus drain, turns out to be a baby croc

KUALA TERENGGANU: A worker came across a baby crocodile while cleaning a drain at a higher learning institute near Bukit Tunggal in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu.

He immediately released it into a nearby river.

Worker Ahmad Ismail Salleh, 33, said he initially thought the reptile was just a toy when he was cleaning the drain.

“However, it moved when I poked it with a twig. At first, I thought it was a monitor lizard but on closer inspection, it turned out to be a baby crocodile,” he said, adding it was about 30cm long.

Ahmad Ismail said he did not report the discovery to the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) because the baby crocodile had been returned to its original habitat and he was worried its mother would come looking for it.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Perhilitan director Loo Kean Seong encouraged the public to make a report immediately if they find wild animals so they can take appropriate action.

He said the hatchling is believed to be of a saltwater crocodile.

In 2016, a one-metre-long saltwater crocodile, nicknamed Mamat, was spotted in an abandoned mine by Kuala Nerus residents.

As it was not aggressive, many people came to look at it and even fed it until it grew bigger.

In June last year, Perhilitan caught Mamat and transferred to the Paya Indah Wetlands in Dengkil, Selangor. – Bernama

Pekerja IPTS jumpa anak buaya semasa bersih longkang https://t.co/NjVS7TcKP7 pic.twitter.com/CSVoPHzkEC— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) January 16, 2022