Sunday, Nov 18, 2012
MALAYSIA - A small primary school and about 160 families who have lived on Pulau Seduku for generations have been asked to move so that the crocodiles can take over the island in the middle of the Sungai Batang Lupar.
The state government has earmarked Pulau Seduku, an island of about 10,000ha and similar in size to the turtle island Talang Talang, as a crocodile sanctuary.
"The island has always been a breeding ground for crocodiles. So, we proposed that it be declared a totally protected sanctuary for the reptiles," said Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Rohani Karim, who is also Batang Lupar member of parliament.
"Moreover, it is expensive to build the basic infrastructure on the island for the small population."
While the majority of the islanders have already moved to a resettlement area on the mainland opposite the island called Kampung Pulau Seduku Baru, about 10 families are still holding out.
They refused to move out claiming that humans and crocodiles had co-existed for generations without any major incidents.
The primary school, SK Pulau Seduku, now has only 19 pupils.
The school has a protective fence built around it to keep out the reptiles that can be seen on most days soaking up the sun on a playing field outside the fence.
A villager said there was a "bond of understanding" between the crocodiles and the people who lived on the island.
"When the children head to school in the morning, you do not see a single crocodile. But when the classes are in session, you can see them on the playing field.
"When the bell rings at the end of the day, the crocodiles are nowhere to be seen."
The last reported attack by a crocodile on the island was in 2007 when an "outsider" -- a youth from Kabong -- was attacked as he sat on the bank of a river there.
The island is about 1km from the mainland. It is here also that the famous benak (tidal bore) starts at the mouth of the Sungai Batang Lupar River
State Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said there was more to just declaring the island a crocodile sanctuary. "There is potential for the island and the areas surrounding it to draw tourists to come and watch crocodiles and the benak."
Bandar Sri Aman has turned benak watching into an annual festival drawing thousands of people.
