By: Choirul Fuadi)*
CIDISS – The cases of crocodile attack human is often happen in Mentaya River, Sampit, Kotawaringin Timur regency, Central Kalimantan. According to data in Nature Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Sampit, year of 2015 BKSDA recorded there were cases of crocodile attack human. Along in 2016, there are 3 cases.
Recently, Saturday (1/10/2016), a people, Pepet (17 years old), was attacked by crocodile, when he taken a bath in Lemiring river, Seranau district. Lucky, he successful survived and has injury in his thigh because of crocodile’s bite. It is the fourth of the case of crocodile attack.
Commander of Guard Pos BKSDA Sampit, Muriansyah assumed the crocodile attack because crocodile is hungry and difficult to get food.
Ferocious Crocodile mostly known is Muara crocodile which has big body, and the body can reach 5 m. Meanwhile, Capit crocodile has characteristic long snout and body reaching 3 m. the crocodile only eat little animal such fish and monkey, not human.
He strongly assumed that the crocodile is hungry. It is because the habitat of crocodile in the lake and forest is damaged; also adding by human act such catch fish using electric and poisoned the fish, then make crocodile hard to get food.
BKSDA announce people to aware when doing activity in the river, moreover they suggest avoiding the activity in the river. Based on the data, the case of crocodile attack, generally happen in the morning and afternoon, it is assumed in that time, crocodile usually look for food.
The crocodile attack in Mentaya River is quite high, almost every year there is always victims, and moreover, some of the victims are never found the body. The habitat of crocodile is assumed in Lepeh Island, located in the middle of Mentaya River. Government only can announce the people to more careful because very difficult to catch and relocate the crocodile which there is many crocodile in that area.
