SANDAKAN: Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) captured a crocodile in an operation at Kampung Tinusa 2 early Thursday morning.
According to Sandakan District Civil Defence Officer Captain (PA) Sulaiman Salama, the incident happened when a local resident spotted the crocodile.
“He was tidying up his boat behind his house when he saw a crocodile under the bridge, caught in a rope.
“Worried about his safety and the safety of the community, he immediately contacted the MERS 999 emergency hotline for help,” he said.
The Sabah State Operations Control Centre (PKON) received the call at around 1:28 am, before dispatching the APM team to the location.
“Upon arrival, our team conducted a survey before proceeding with the operation to capture the reptile,” Sulaiman said.
The crocodile was estimated about 1.5 metres long, weighing 16kg. The operation took about 45 minutes to complete.
“We used ropes, a blanket and two snares to capture the crocodile. We covered its eyes with a blanket before tying it up to ensure safety during the capture,” he said.
Sulaiman confirmed that no injuries or accidents were reported during the operation. The crocodile will be handed over to the Sabah Wildlife Department for further action.
