Throughout 2023, Many Human And Wildlife Conflicts Occur On The Island Of Timor

The process of relocating a crocodile caught in Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. (ANTARA)

The Center for Natural Resources Conservation (BBKSDA) of East Nusa Tenggara recorded that during 2023 conflicts between humans and crocodiles with the highest number on Timor Island reached seven cases.

"Most of them are Timor Island out of a total of 15 victims of crocodile bites throughout NTT," said Head of BBKSDA NTT Arief Mahmud as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, April 11.

He said the negative interaction between crocodiles and humans in NTT was quite high when compared to other provinces in Indonesia.

According to data, five of the 15 victims who were bitten by the crocodile were declared dead due to severe bites.

Conflict between crocodiles and humans also occurred on Sumba Island with six cases, while the rest were in Flores and Lembata district with one case each.

Since January 2024 until now there are two incidents that have caused the death of a victim.

"The period from January to April 2024 there were two incidents of conflict that resulted in one person dying," he said.

Arief assessed that the settlement of negative interactions actually had to be done by taking into account the root of the problem, including repairing habitats in the form of damaged mangrove forests and limiting community activities in areas intended for animal habitats.

He said the incident of crocodiles appearing in public areas was possible because crocodiles looking for new habitats due to damaged natural habitats or territorial competition that resulted in certain individuals having to move.

In certain cases, he said, crocodiles also interact with the community when they pass by to move or find food.

Therefore, he said, the short-term solution taken by the government when there is negative interaction, especially in public areas or areas close to settlements, is in the form of capturing and relocating to certain places.

With quite a number of crocodiles currently in temporary shelters at BBKSDA NTT, he said, efforts are needed to turn the problem into an opportunity, for example by building public conservation facilities, which among others are used for tourism.

In addition, investor participation is needed to take advantage of this opportunity with the support of the licensing process by BBKSDA NTT.

BBKSDA NTT urges the public not to take their own steps when there is a meeting with crocodiles, not throw away food residue in the sea that can provoke crocodiles, and report incidents of negative interaction of crocodiles through the NTT BBKSDA call center.