KOTA KINABALU: Science-based strategies are the best option to reduce crocodile-human conflict as large-scale culling or relocation of the reptiles may create a false sense of security without addressing the root causes of danger.
Amid growing public calls for culling crocodiles following an increase in attacks on humans in Sabah, conservationists at the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) urged the public to adopt a strategy to limit crocodile entry into specific river areas frequently used by people.
DGFC said it was piloting practical, long-term initiatives to introduce Crocodile Exclusion Enclosures (CEE) - a new initiative providing protected sections of the river that allow safer water access by physically limiting crocodile entry.
It also aims to educate people on crocodile behaviour and to reduce exposure and change high-risk patterns of river use.
The conservation group is pushing for science-based monitoring of the reptiles that moves beyond impulsive reactions to understand how crocodiles and humans can coexist in a changing environment including shrinking habitat.
DGFC crocodile expert Dr Sai Kerisha said that human life remains the absolute priority in conservation efforts.
“Conservation is often misunderstood as prioritising wildlife over people. In reality, our work is about protecting lives in shared environments. Human safety and the lived experiences of those residing alongside these apex predators are central to everything we do,” she said.
Under ecological pressure, Dr Kerisha said that frequent human activities - fishing or bathing - at the same river access points allow crocodiles to learn patterns, significantly increasing the likelihood of an encounter.
The conservation group explained that crocodiles have been harvested and removed in Sabah for years, yet incidents are currently increasing. This proves that removal alone is not a deterrent.
Recent incidents have sparked public calls for crocodiles to be culled or removed from the areas, but the conservation group pointed out that killing dominant crocodiles often lead to new, unpredictable individuals occupying the territory.
“Rivers, being open systems, make it difficult to identify the specific animal responsible for attacks, meaning non-aggressive crocodiles are sometimes removed while the actual threat remains," DGFC said in a statement Friday (May 8).
DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens said that permanent solutions require more than reactive culling.
“The goal is not to choose between people and crocodiles. The goal is to ensure that people are safer in the environments where they live and work. Therefore, we must focus on reducing risk at its source through awareness, better infrastructure, and a realistic understanding of river ecosystems,” he said.
