SHAH ALAM – The Selangor Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) Department monitored the surroundings of Sungai Renggam water lock in Section 17 here after receiving complaints from the public of a crocodile sighting.
On 16 June, Selangor Perhilitan director Haidar Khan Mokbolhassan said the complaint was officially received through the department’s ‘hotline’ at around 2 pm but the photo of the crocodile went viral in the local community’s social media two days ago.
“We always check on complaints from the public either through social media or official complaints. Since the pictures of the reptiles are said to be taken on the Sungai Renggam water lock here, we have been monitoring the area several times since,” said Haidar.
“However, our team found no animal. For now, I can not confirm that there are crocodiles in the area and the people around it need not be upset. We are also investigating whether the crocodile was actually seen in Sungai Renggam, “he said.
However, Haidar stated that due to the rising water levels of Sungai Renggam over the last three days following heavy rain, he did not rule out that there was a crocodile that managed to enter the river when the water lock was opened.
He noted that Sungai Renggam is a streamline of the river to the Klang River which is separated through the water key and it is not impossible for crocodiles to be in the area as the Klang River is recognized as a habitat for the reptiles.
As of the moment, Haidar said he would continue to monitor the area especially during the times when the crocodile would rest on the cliffs to ‘warm up’ the body, but there was no need to install traps on the river.
“We will continue to monitor this location for the safety of the people as well as the welfare of the animals themselves. If we find that the crocodile is threatening, we will set up a trap, but if it is not, it is not necessary to set up a trap because the river is the natural habitat of the reptiles, “he said.
-BERNAMA
