FWD: Groups slam calls to rid crocs from river

[Guest guest]

***************************Advertisement***************************

eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide

http://www.star-ecentral.com

 

 

*****************************************************************

This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling.

 

Comment from sender:

 

 

This article is from thestar.com.my

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/9/9/nation/pkcroc & sec=nation

 

________________________

 

Monday, September 09, 2002

Groups slam calls to rid crocs from river

By RUBEN SARIO

 

KOTA KINABALU: Environmental groups are appalled over calls by certain groups to

get rid of crocodiles from the 560km-long Sungai Kinabatangan where wildlife is

already under threat.

 

World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia Animal Species Conservation Unit senior

head Dr Dionysius Sharma said the suggestion to reduce the population of the

reptiles ahead of a river festival there was “uncalled for. & #8217; & #8217;

 

“These reptiles are not at fault. They have been living along the river long

before any human habitation, & #8217; & #8217; he said.

 

Dr Sharma, who spent about a year in the Lower Kinabatangan region studying the

wildlife there, said he was doubtful of claims that there were about 10,000

crocodiles in the river.

 

“I do not think there was a survey ever carried out to conclusively determine

their numbers, & #8217; & #8217; he added.

 

Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin had last week asked the Sabah Wildlife

Department to reduce the crocodile population in the river.

 

Mokhtar said the claim that 10,000 crocodiles lived in the Kinabatangan River

as stated by District Officer Abdul Latif Kandok was alarming.

 

He had said the presence of crocodiles could pose a threat to the staging of

the Pesta Sungai Kinabatangan planned for Sept 21 when various events including

water sports would be held.

 

“We do not want frightening things to happen, & #8217; & #8217; he said.

 

Dr Sharma, when asked whether any measure could be taken to keep the crocodiles

away from the venue of the event, however, said the noise and crowd would scare

off the reptiles.

 

“At the end of the day, events like these should not be held at the expense of

the reptiles, & #8217; & #8217; Dr Sharma added.

 

<p>

 

________________________

Your one-stop information portal:

The Star Online

http://thestar.com.my

http://biz.thestar.com.my

http://classifieds.thestar.com.my

http://cards.thestar.com.my

http://search.thestar.com.my

http://star-motoring.com

http://star-space.com

http://star-jobs.com

http://star-ecentral.com

http://star-techcentral.com

 

1995-2002 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written

permission of Star Publications is prohibited.