Aceh Fishermen Attacked By Crocodiles While Looking For Fish And Sea Cucumbers, BKSDA: Crocodile Habitat Location, Keeps Reminded

Crocodile Illustration (Photo: Glen Carrie / Unspalash)

JAKARTA - Head of the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Agus Arianto, said fishermen from West Banyak Island, Aceh Singkil Regency were attacked by crocodiles for swimming to find fish and sea cucumbers to crocodile habitat.

"Actually, it's the habitat, there are crocodiles (many pandan islands)," said Agus Arianto, in Banda Aceh as reported by Antara, Friday, February 19.

Previously, a fisherman from Ujung Sialit Village, West Island Subdistrict, Aceh Singkil District, Aceh was killed by a crocodile while swimming in the local waters.

The fisherman who was killed by the crocodile was Sojinema Zega (36). Meanwhile, four colleagues Onius Gulo (27), Eli Yudi Gulo (24), Dirianus Gea (22) and Erlin Zai (19) managed to save themselves.

The incident occurred when the victim and his colleague went to the waters of Panda Island, West Pulau Banyak sub-district by boat to find fish and sea cucumbers.

Agus said, BKSDA had repeatedly reminded and socialized the public to be careful in carrying out activities in the island area.

Therefore, Agus asked local people to limit their fishing activities or other marine biota in areas that are known to be estuarine crocodile habitats.

"This means that we have to better understand the situation, because it is not the community area that the crocodiles enter, but the crocodile area that the community enters," he said.

Agus conveyed that several islands in Aceh Singkil are indeed areas that are under the supervision of the BKSDA, therefore his party always provides routine socialization to the local community.

"Several places there (many islands) are the habitat for estuarine crocodiles, especially in the empty islands which are their habitat, the community must be careful," said Agus.