LAHAD DATU: Sabah government will start hunting for crocodile to ensure the safety of the people.
This is after a one-year-old kid was recently killed while his father was severely injured by a crocodile attack off Lahad Datu.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Jafry Ariffin said apart from that site, the ministry through Sabah Wildlife department would also implement measures at the villages with similar risks.
He said crocodiles present or spotted within a kilometre from villages would be hunted.
"This is to ensure safety as human might go into areas where there used to be no crocodiles but there are now.
"(Therefore), all crocodiles spotted at areas with human activities will be hunted or shot dead," he said in his Facebook page.
Based on Non-Detrimental Findings Study, there are 2,886 crocodiles based on a survey between 2007 and 2020 which covered 10 main rivers in Sabah.
Those rivers are Sungai Kinabatangan, Sungai Segama, Sungai Silabukan, Sungai Klias, Sungai Padas, Sungai Bengkoka, Sungai Paitan, Sungai Kalumpang, Sungai Labuk and Sungai Serudong.
Kinabatangan river has the highest number of crocodiles at 1,368.
Based on scientific records, female crocodiles will mature and can lay eggs at the age of 12 and 14 years and will lay eggs once a year.
The number of eggs each laying is between 40 and 90 eggs.
In August, Jafry had also announced that the state has started issuing crocodile hunting licences for local usage or for breeding at the farms statewide.
Jafry said those who died from wildlife attack are entitled for compensation from Community Welfare Department.
The amount of compensation is RM20,000 and to be endorsed by Wildlife Department.
As for other form of injuries, there will also be compensation based on severity.
"As for the condition, the claimant has to be a citizen."