Rising Mornings Make Residents Wary, Police Install A Sign Of 'Alert Crocodiles' Warning On The Tauca River Riau Islands

A crocodile alert sign is installed around the Tauca River on Jalan Lembah Merpati/DOK ANTARA

RIAU - Police and stakeholders installed crocodile alert signs at four vulnerable points around the Tauca River on Jalan Lembah Merpati, East Tanjungpinang District, Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands Province (Kepri). "With the installation of this sign board, residents around the Tauca River are expected to be more alert to the presence of crocodiles in the area.” said East Tanjungpinang Police Chief, AKP Rifi Hamdani Sitohang, quoted from Antara, Friday, November 10. Based on reports from residents, in the Tauca River area, small to large crocodiles often appear, which disturbs residents around them, especially since they are located near densely populated housing. The crocodile's presence was observed in the morning and even at night. The dangerous animal appears on the surface and occasionally basks on the mainland of the Tauca River. Therefore, the East Tanjungpinang Police Chief appealed to all residents, especially those living around the Tauca River not to use or carry out activities along the river because it risks threatening the safety of their lives. "If residents are forced to carry out activities along the Tauca River, it is hoped that they can carry out strict supervision from parties who understand the river situation in order to avoid the danger of being attacked by crocodiles," he said. The police chief added that until now, his party had not reported any reports of victims of crocodile attack in the area. His party, through Bhabinkamtibmas, Batu IX Village, East Tanjungpinang Police, routinely makes appeals to local residents, including by door to door so that people can increase their awareness of the presence of crocodiles in the Tauca River. "We also continue to coordinate with related parties to deal with crocodiles in the Tauca River," he said. Meanwhile, a resident of housing around the Tauca River, Riri, admitted that he often saw crocodiles in the river, especially in the morning. He had forbidden his children not to play around the river to avoid the danger of being attacked by crocodiles.

According to him, the presence of crocodiles in the Tauca River has been going on for a long time. Although there are no local residents who have been preyed on by crocodiles, most local residents are worried about the threat of crocodiles in the river. "Moreover, the location of the river is very close to access roads in and out of housing. Hopefully there will be a solution from the relevant government, before causing danger to the residents here," said Riri.