Rising Crocodile Encounters Prompt New Management Measures in Sarawak

A survey cited in recent reports indicates that the crocodile population in Sarawak’s rivers rebounded to more than 25,000 in 2024, after near-extinction in the 1980s due to over-exploitation. The increase has led to more frequent sightings near villages, especially in indigenous communities along the Kemena River.

The Straits Times

Sarawak Deputy Natural Resources Minister Len Talif Salleh stated that authorities must balance wildlife conservation with the safety of riverside residents. To address the surge, the state government has begun issuing hunting licences and launched a mobile-phone application for the public to report crocodile sightings. The Sarawak Forestry Corporation noted that, although encounters are rising, attacks have declined compared with two decades ago. Licensed hunters and local volunteers are now collaborating with officials to relocate problem animals away from populated riverbanks.

The Straits Times

Crocodile attacks have resulted in 22 deaths between 2023 and 2025, and five fatalities so far in 2026, according to the same sources. The most high-profile case involved the death of a boy in May 2024; his father, community headman Daniel Muking, identified the responsible crocodile, which was later hunted down, providing the family with closure.

The Straits Times

• “I also want to eat its flesh if I can,” — Daniel

UsNews and World Report

The combination of regulated hunting, community reporting, and targeted relocations aims to reduce human-crocodile conflict while preserving the recovering reptile population. Ongoing monitoring will determine whether the new measures can sustain the downward trend in attacks as encounters continue to rise.

The Straits Times