Middle-aged Woman Keeping Two Crocodiles At Home, Residents Restless Report To BKSDA

JAKARTA - Joint officers from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Ministry of Environment, the Forestry Service, and the Forestry Police as well as Utan Panjang Village, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, evacuated two 2-meter estuarine crocodiles that were kept by residents.

It was later discovered that the crocodile belonged to a woman named Buriah. From her confession, Buriah has been keeping crocodiles for more than 5 years. She got the pair of crocodiles from her friend.

Buriah kept the wild animal on the 2nd floor of her house so that local residents would not see it.

"So the two crocodiles are kept on the 2nd floor of the owner's house. One is kept on the front balcony and the other is inside the house", said Utan Panjang Village Head, Amadeo, when contacted by VOI, Friday, October 22.

The evacuation of the dangerous predator began with reports from local residents who were starting to get restless with the crocodile's presence.

Although kept by Buriah, residents are worried that the estuarine crocodile will be released and endanger other residents.

Joint officers evacuated the two crocodiles from Buriah's house on Utan Panjang Street III RT 03/05, Utan Panjang Village, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

"The crocodile was evacuated because of complaints from residents", he said

Prior to the evacuation, the officer first asked permission from the owner regarding the prohibition of keeping wild or protected animals. After getting the permit, the officers evacuated.

"Before we went to the owner, we explained that the crocodile could not be kept because it was protected by the state. The crocodile was taken into captivity in Tegal Alur, West Jakarta", he said.

Although crocodiles are protected animals, forestry officials do not give sanctions to their owners because the owners gave up the two crocodiles when they were confiscated.