BKSDA Installs Crocodile Trap Cameras That Prey Residents In Bengkulu

Residents of Mukomuko City Subdistrict, Mukomuko Regency are looking for victims who were attacked by crocodiles, Monday (21/2/2022) ANTARA/HO-Istimewa.

BENGKULU - The Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) will install a camera trap near the Selagan River area, to monitor ferocious crocodiles that prey on residents of Tanah Rekah Village, Mukomuko Regency.

"We have coordinated with the BKSDA, and they will install camera traps to check for ferocious and non-malignant crocodiles in the Selagan River," said Acting Regional Secretary for Mukomuko Regency, Yandaryat, quoted by Antara, Friday, March 4.

BKSDA installed camera traps because they did not know the crocodile that had preyed on Sabri (65), a resident of Tanah Rekah Village, Mukomuko City District.

According to him, BKSDA installed this camera trap to obtain data on aggressive and non-aggressive crocodiles in the Selagan River in this area.

"Right now, we don't know the crocodile that attacked the local residents and died in the Selagan River. But usually the nature of the crocodile that has attacked the residents will repeat it," he said.

In addition, he said, the BKSDA will dispatch a team to conduct observations at the location of the crocodile attack on the residents of Tanah Rekah Village, Mukomuko City District.

The team from the BKSDA in addition to observing the location of the crocodile attack on the residents, also identified the crocodile that attacked the resident.

Based on information from residents in this area, there are about 15 large crocodiles in the Selagan River in Mukomuko City District.

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

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

BKSDA urges the community to restrain themselves first. If they carry out the activity of lifting palms in a safe way, that is, don't fill the boat too much so that the crocodiles don't eat them when they are close to the crocodiles.

In addition, if the diving activity is not safe, do not do it, he said, including not fishing and the mother taking a river bath until the team from BKSDA comes down.