Viral Crocodile Killed And Skinned By Mine Workers In Konawe Sultra, BKSDA Intervenes To Investigate

Mine worker in Morosi sub-district, Konawe district, Southeast Sulawesi kills and then skins a crocodile (ANTARA)

SULTRA - The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) is investigating the act of killing and skinning a crocodile which was allegedly carried out by mining workers in the Konawe Regency.

Photos and videos of the actions of mining workers in the nickel mining industrial area in Morosi District, Konawe Regency have gone viral on social media recently.

In the video, a tied crocodile is seen by the mining workers. Several photos milling about on social media both Facebook and WhatsApp groups show a number of workers killing and skinning the crocodile.

The head of the Southeast Sulawesi BKSDA, Sakrianto Djawie, as quoted by Antara, said that the act of killing a crocodile cannot be justified because it is one of the protected animals according to the Law on Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems.

"We have coordinated with law enforcement officials and immediately dispatched a team to the mining site which according to information we received was the scene where the crocodile was found. As has been viral on social media, when it has been skinned and killed," he said in Kendari, Wednesday, August 25.

The penalty for murder is five years in prison if it is proven that the crocodile was deliberately killed in accordance with the Law on Animal Protection Number 5 of 1990.

"The team will go to the location later to conduct an investigation and ask for information from parties related to this incident," he said.

Until now, there is no complete information regarding the crocodile's discovery. The Southeast Sulawesi BKSDA is still investigating the crocodile's discovery.