Croc sighting near Kg Muhibah in Sabah triggers fears of man-eater's return

A Wildlife Department ranger monitoring flood-hit Kg Muhibah after villagers reported seeing a large crocodile near a bridge. The area is not far from the reputed lair of a man-eater said to have killed a member of the Civil Defence Force in 2018. – BERNAMApic

KOTA KINABALU: The sighting of a large crocodile lounging near the bridge to Kampung Muhibah in flood-hit Kinabatangan has given rise to fears that a notorious man-eating reptile may be in the area.

A monitoring team was deployed on Thursday (April 3), according to Civil Defence Force officer Capt Ahmad Roslan Mohd Kamel.

A joint team from the Wildlife Department and police carried out surveillance at the site but found no physical traces of the reptile, he said on Friday (April 4).

The Wildlife Department will set a trap there as a precaution, he added.

The area is not far from Tanjung Bulat, known to be the habitat of a crocodile referred to as "Si Black".

The crocodile’s nickname still sparks fear in the local community.

Si Black was blamed for the 2018 death of an off-duty member of the Civil Defence Force, who was snatched while fishing by the riverbank – a tragedy that remains etched in locals' memory to this day.