2 Mukomuko Residents Have Died By Crocodiles, BKSDA Forms Crocodile Capture Team

Illustration of river estuarine crocodiles. (Unsplash- Joshua J. Totten)

BENGKULU - Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) formed a special team as an effort to prepare for the installation of traps to catch crocodiles that preyed on residents of Tanah Harapan Village, Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu. "Now we are forming a team from the BKSDA, then we are waiting for a sprint for its formation," said Head of BKSDA Bengkulu Hifzon Zawahiri through the Head of the Air Hitam Rasidin Resort in Mukomuko, Bengkulu, Thursday 30 May, confiscated by Antara. There were two victims who were eaten by crocodiles in the Selagan River, namely the idea of Suprianto (27), residents of Tanah Harapan Village, Mukomuko City District Monday, April 15, and Sabri (65), residents of Tanah Rekah Village on Monday 21 February 2022. Bengkulu BKSDA Representatives, namely the Head of the KSDA Air Hitam Rasidin Resort and the Head of the KSDA Mukomuko Damin Resort visited the Mukomuko Environmental Service (DLH) Mukomuko Regency to follow up on crocodile conflicts with humans in this area.

From the results of the meeting of representatives of the Bengkulu BKSDA with the Head of DLH Mukomuko Regency Budi Yanto, the installation of crocodile traps in the Selagan River was carried out on May 3-4.

There are two crocodile traps provided by DLH Mukomuko, related to the technical installation of crocodile traps such as what to see the situation, whether two or enough one trap. He said, there were six Bengkulu BKSDA personnel involved in this activity, then the BKSDA also involved DLH, sub-district, village, TNI, police, and private in catching this crocodile. For the location of installation, he said, his party focused on where the crocodiles were eaten by the Selagan River and BKSDA using itik bait to catch crocodiles in this river. He revealed, because the installation of crocodile traps was the first time in Bengkulu Province, the BKSDA will study how to install other places that have done so in Kalimantan.

Head of the Mukomuko Regency Environment Agency (LH) Budi Yanto said his party asked for help from palm oil companies to make special tools for crocodile traps that prey on residents in this area. "There are already two of the four crocodile traps in this service, while two more traps are being worked on," he said.