KOTA KINABALU: Enforcement agencies joined forces for a crocodile culling operation, shooting dead three reptiles in Sabah's east coast Lahad Datu district.
One of the crocodiles killed in the eight-hour operation starting from 8am on Wednesday (Feb 14) was a 3.4m (11ft) specimen.
Sabah Region Four Marine Police Commander Asst Comm Ahmad Ariffin said the operation was conducted in the Lahad Datu marine police jetty, Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC), Sungai Sabah Baru, Kampung Puyut, Sungai Sapagaya and Tabanak.
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"The crocodiles we shot were handed over to the Sabah Wildlife Department," he said when contacted on Friday (Feb 16).
"The operation was carried out to control the crocodile population as well as reduce incidents of attacks in Lahad Datu waters.
"The exercise went smoothly without any untoward incident," he added.
Besides the marine police, other agencies involved in the exercise were the district police, Civil Defence Force (APM), Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), General Operations Force, district disaster management committee and district council.
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Lahad Datu is among the Sabah districts where scores of fatal crocodile attacks have been reported over the years.
Wildlife authorities have since carried out operations to control the crocodile population in the district, including in December when they shot two unusually large crocodiles.
