KOTA KINABALU: Wildlife rangers are trying to locate a crocodile which was spotted at the Likas Bay beachfront, a popular recreational area for families and anglers here.
This was after a viral video claiming the reptile was sighted near the shore.
Confirming the video as genuine, Sabah Wildlife director Augustine Tuuga advised the public to be extra careful when visiting the area as his personnel scour the beachfront for the crocodile.
So far, he said, the department has failed to detect the reptile despite continuous monitoring there.
"Wildlife officers will shoot the crocodile if they spotted it but they have not found anything since last night," he said when contacted on Friday (Dec 9).
"As such, the public is advised to be wary, especially near the shores. If possible, avoid any activity at sea or nearby areas until the crocodile is shot," he added.
Tuuga said they have also received a letter from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage confirming there was also a crocodile in the retention pond, which was located just across the Likas Bay.
It could not be ascertained if the crocodile in the pond was the same one spotted at the beachfront.
Responding to another claim of a crocodile sighting, Tuuga denied a video that showed a crocodile swimming through the waters at a jetty in the state capital.
He said his department immediately mounted a search at several jetties and ports here including the Kota Kinabalu general market jetty, Sabah Parks jetty, Jesselton Point jetty as well as the Kota Kinabalu and Customs Department ports after the video went viral over social media earlier this week.
"People interviewed at the areas said they have never spotted a crocodile at the jetties or ports," he said.
He said they also noticed that the structures in the video were not the same as the ones at the jetties and ports here.
