Residents Of Central Kalimantan Asked To Be Alert, Ada Buaya Di Anak Sungai Dekat SMAN 1 Mentaya Hilir Selatan

JAKARTA - The Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) appealed to the public to increase awareness of crocodile attacks, along with the emergence of these animals near SMAN 1 Mentaya Hilir Selatan, Kotawaringin Timur Regency.

"We have received the report and we will immediately follow up. We immediately went to the location where the crocodile appeared and appealed to the public to be more vigilant," said the Commander of the Central Kalimantan BKSDA Sampit Muriansyah Post, quoted from Antara, Sunday, February 26.

The appearance of crocodiles caught the public's attention after a resident had time to capture them using cell phone cameras. The video quickly spreads and raises responses from people who are generally worried, because the crocodile's appearance is close to the school.

From the video, it can be seen that crocodiles appear in small tributaries which are only about 10 meters from SMAN 1 Mentaya Hilir Selatan. The estuarine crocodile is estimated to have a length of more than two meters long and is seen sunbathing on the banks of the tributaries.

The appearance of crocodiles is increasingly common in Mentaya Hilir Selatan District. People are advised to be more vigilant because it is estimated that the population of wild animals is quite large, so it is prone to conflicts with humans.

Following up on reports of the appearance of crocodiles near SMAN 1 Mentaya Hilir Selatan, Muriansyah and his team immediately went to the location. They will put up banners containing appeals to be more vigilant against the appearance and attack of crocodiles. BKSDA will also educate the public to avoid crocodile attacks.

As is known, crocodile attacks are very prone to occur during the dark day. For this reason, people are asked to be more careful when doing activities in the river. Residents are advised to avoid activities during dark days because they are prone to crocodile attacks.

The appearance of crocodiles around the settlement is thought to be due to hunger. The wild animal is looking for food to the waters near the settlements, because it is increasingly difficult to get food in its natural habitat, as the ecosystem is disrupted, so that food sources are decreasing.

Muriansyah said that his party would conduct observations first. On his way to the location, his party will also carry a set of snares and crocodile fishing, but for installation, the situation and conditions will be seen.

"Even if it is installed, we ask for help from residents to participate in monitoring, because there is a tidal area, so that the bait can depend on the receding pass, while when the river is deep, the bait sinks," said Muriansyah.