Unexpected catch: The crocodile became entangled in the woman’s fishing net along with her other catch at Kampung Tungkang in Sikuati, Kudat. — Photo courtesy of APM Kudat
KOTA KINABALU: A woman had a terrifying shock when she pulled up an unexpected catch while fishing in a river in Sabah’s northern Kudat district on the night of July 7.
The incident occurred at about 10.30pm at Kampung Tungkang in Sikuati, when a 3m-long saltwater crocodile became entangled in her fishing net along with her other catch.
Panicked, she screamed for help, prompting nearby villagers to rush over.
Working together, they managed to haul the reptile, weighing about 300kg, to shore.
According to Kudat Malaysian Civil Defence Force officer Capt Abdullah Sabaruddin, the woman then contacted emergency services via the MERS 999 hotline.
“A team from the Kudat District Operations Office was deployed immediately after receiving the alert from the Sabah State Operations Control Centre,” he said in a statement on July 8.
The team, equipped for capturing wildlife, arrived at the scene at 11.06pm to find the crocodile already restrained by villagers.
“For safety and control, our team covered the crocodile’s eyes with a blanket and secured its limbs using two specialised ropes,” he added.
The operation was completed successfully by 1.35am, with no injuries reported.
Abdullah said the crocodile was later handed over to the Sabah Wildlife Department.
He reminded the public to remain vigilant when conducting any activities near rivers or estuaries, especially at night.
