KOTA KINABALU: Calls for stronger measures to manage crocodile and elephant conflicts were raised during the tourism and environment ministry’s winding-up debate in the Sabah State Assembly.
During his winding-up speech, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin (Barisan-Sukau) responded to questions from several assemblymen, acknowledging concerns over rising crocodile encounters and elephant-related conflicts in parts of the state, including Sandakan and the East Coast.
Responding to a proposal by Assafal Alian (Warisan–Tungku) to expand conservation areas such as Tabin Wildlife Reserve into fenced wildlife parks to prevent elephants from straying into human settlements, Jafry said the idea would be studied further.
“We will discuss the proposal related to Tabin and I will bring it to the ministry for further study,” he said.
Assafal also raised the possibility of monetising crocodiles through regulated hunting and trade in meat and skins, citing the lack of a comprehensive population inventory to determine whether numbers were excessive or declining.
Jafry said crocodile hunting was already permitted under strict licensing by the Sabah Wildlife Department, although applications for crocodile-based industries such as meat or leather processing have so far been limited.
When asked whether crocodile meat restaurants or leather products could be legalised as income sources, he said such activities required approval and must be guided by population inventory controls.
“Applications are required, and we are guided by inventory assessments,” he said.
Alex Thien (Warisan–Tanjong Papat) later cited reports of rising crocodile incidents in Sandakan and asked whether alternatives to shooting were being considered, noting manpower constraints among enforcement officers.
Jafry said the ministry, through the Sabah Wildlife Department, has implemented mitigation measures including coordinated operations with enforcement agencies, controlled population reduction in identified hotspots, public awareness programmes and warning signage.
He stressed that any action to remove or shoot crocodiles must comply with approved procedures and permit requirements.
Jafry also clarified that while crocodiles are listed internationally under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the species is classified as a protected animal under Sabah’s Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, allowing population management based on local conditions.
He said human-crocodile conflict has increased largely due to forest clearance for agriculture and settlements, which has reduced natural habitats and led to overlapping activity areas.
Later in his winding-up speech, Jafry said tourism remained a key economic driver, contributing 12% to Sabah’s gross domestic product in 2024, up 0.3 percentage points from the previous year.
Sabah recorded 3.09 million visitor arrivals as of October, achieving 88.4% of its annual target of 3.5 million visitors, with tourism receipts estimated at RM7.18bil.
The tourism sector employed about 387,600 people, or 22.6% of the state’s workforce.
Jafry said the state government would continue balancing conservation, public safety and economic development, adding that sustainable tourism depended on effective wildlife management and community safety.
