KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) is on a fresh mission to remove any crocodiles sighted in the Crocodile Exclusion Zone of the Sarawak River.
In a Facebook posting, it said "Operation Crocodile" began on March 14 and would end on March 27.
It said the operation was due to increased reports of crocodile sightings from most of the villages on the river.
Six enforcement officers from SFC's Kuching regional office are involved in the operation where their main task is to set traps.
To date, no crocodile has been detected or trapped.
SFC assured that the operation would continue periodically.
At the end of last year, SFC said the crocodile population in the state was estimated to be 24,700. It said it was about 13,500 in 2014.
The marked increase in the crocodile population is due its protected status under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998.
Last Dec 23, a 15-year-old in Samariang was killed by a crocodile while fishing in the river.
But 2021 saw nine fatal cases from crocodile attacks throughout the state.
SFC records shows that 60 per cent of the attacks were linked to river activities including taking a bath or fishing.
SFC has identified Batang Samarahan, the Santubong estuary, Bako, Suai Rivers and Batang Sadong as crocodile-infested rivers.