Because 11 Estuary Crocodiles In Jambi Also Need Attention

JAKARTA - Jambi's Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) evacuated 11 estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) from abandoned captivity in Muarojambi Regency. The evacuation was assisted by the National Armed Force (TNI), National Police (Polri), and local governments and residents.

Acting Head of Region II BKSDA Jambi Didik Bangkit Kurniawan said the evacuation of 11 estuarine crocodiles was carried out for four days from September 24 to September 27, 2021.

The BKSDA evacuated the crocodiles from the captivity in Sungai Gelam Subdistrict, Muarojambi Regency, because it was not well cared for so that the crocodiles often escaped and endangered local residents.

According to Didik, the estuarine crocodile that was evacuated from the captivity in Muarojambi was temporarily placed in Muara Bulian, Batanghari Regency.

"Because there is indeed a fish pond that has been concreted around it. We will temporarily place the crocodile there," he said as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, September 29.

Furthermore, he said, the crocodiles could be taken to captivity where they could be used or released into their natural habitat.

"For the release sites, we need to survey first, there are several places that are indeed the release sites for estuarine crocodiles," he said.

According to him, there are still 15 estuarine crocodiles that must be evacuated from their captivity in Sungai Gelam, Muarojambi.

On Wednesday efforts to evacuate the crocodiles from the abandoned captivity were temporarily halted because officials had difficulty setting traps to catch crocodiles that had gathered in the middle of the pond.

"Yesterday all the crocodiles were in the middle and this is because maybe for four days we evacuated the crocodiles they were afraid, maybe the crocodiles gathered in the middle," said Didik.

"The pool is so wide, when the crocodile is positioned in the middle, it makes it difficult for officers to catch or set traps," he added.

He appealed to residents in Garden IX, Sungai Gelam District, to temporarily not move in the river area to avoid threats from crocodiles escaping from captivity.

"Officers will also continue to conduct sweeps in locations around the river after the evacuation of the crocodiles from the captivity," said Didik.