KOTA KINABALU: Villagers and wildlife rangers have captured three crocodiles near Sungai Weston in Beaufort, a southwestern district of Sabah, including a 3.5m-long adult weighing over 100kg.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar confirmed that the crocodiles were captured after taking the bait set by rangers from the department's Pantai Barat office.
"Yes, the bait set by rangers from the Pantai Barat Wildlife Office was taken by the crocodile," he said, adding that the department had been monitoring the area before setting up the bait.
He said the department had received complaints from the public about crocodile sightings in Kampung Weston and had been conducting regular patrols in the area.
"Yes, there are still crocodiles in these areas. We have been monitoring the situation, which is why we set the bait," he said.
He added that 10 baited hooks were set up in the area, resulting in the capture of two female crocodiles and one male crocodile, each measuring between 5 to 11 feet.
The captured adult crocodile, believed to be the mother, was found weak and barely alive, while the smaller one was discovered dead during the operation around 7.30am on Tuesday (May 13).
Mohd Soffian added that the department would continue to monitor the area and take appropriate action to reduce crocodile-human conflicts in the area.
Despite the capture, he warned that crocodiles are still active along the riverbanks of Kampung Laut Weston, Kampung Menengah, and Kampung Hulu.
Meanwhile, parents have been advised to closely monitor their children near the water, as crocodiles remain a potential threat in these areas.
