There Are Residents Victimized, Mukomuko Regency-BKSDA Coordinates To Overcome Crocodile Herds In Selagan River

MUKOMUKO - The Government of Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu is coordinating with the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) to deal with crocodiles that prey on local residents who are still roaming the Selagan River.

"We have coordinated with the BKSDA to look for steps to take because the authority lies with them," said Mukomuko Yandaryat, acting regional secretary, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, March 2.

The local regency government coordinated with the BKSDA to follow up on the request of the people of five villages on the banks of the Selagan River regarding the crocodile that preyed on Sabri (65), a resident of Tanah Rekah Village.

Based on the results of the communication, BKSDA will soon deploy a team to carry out monitoring, while from the survey there are steps to convince the community that they can carry out activities as usual.

The BKSDA team observed and identified crocodiles that preyed on local residents and died in the river.

Based on reports from the local community, there were about 14 large crocodiles but not including the calves and arms of adults.

He explained that the rivers in this area are the habitat of crocodiles. It is possible that they have had a zone of power so far, while by chance the people are carrying out activities in that area so that the crocodiles are disturbed and become active.

According to the BKSDA, he said, crocodiles in estuaries and saltwater are more vicious than crocodiles in fresh water.

He advised the public to refrain from doing activities in that place.

"If they carry out activities to lift palms in a safe way, don't fill the boat too much so that the crocodiles don't eat them when they are close to the crocodiles. If the diving activity is not safe, don't do it, including not fishing and the mother taking a river bath until the team from the BKSDA down," he said.