An island off the Sabahan coast has found itself hosting and housing vicious saltwater crocodiles. You know, the kind that haunt shallow waters and will snap, drag and swallow up anyone wadding in their backyard.
Pulau Banggi, the quiet sandy island previously untouched by the croc menace, has increasingly become a human buffet for the water beasts. They started appearing around 4 years ago, and have since been the cause of many accidents with islanders. Its three thousand residents mostly sustain themselves on fishing in the area surrounding the island, and attacks are becoming more prevalent.
Locals suspect the crocs swam over from Pulau Balambangan. Although attempts at implementing safety measures have been made, authorities have themselves even been found at the wrong end of being croc bait.
Juani Ari, a 42-year-old teacher on the island told reporters that an officer patrolling the shores was himself attacked by a croc and needed medical treatment. Most of the island is comprised of rural housing, where the primary source of income is fishing. Locals no longer want to go in the water. You can see the problem here.
East Malaysia is arguably the most resource rich area of the country. Sabah is the country’s biggest palm oil supplier. From palm oil, to rubber, to timber, money flows from Borneo but often does not reach the backwaters of its rural residents.
Both Sabah and neighbouring state Sarawak have experienced an increase in crocodile sightings and attacks. A few years ago, Sarawak residents noticed that attacks were on the rise. Many blamed the changing eco-structure brought on by palm oil farming and logging to the rise in crocs in previously uncharted waters.
There’s no denying how lucrative these industries are. To get an idea, neighbouring state Sarawak made RM1.42 billion from timber in just the last 3 months. However, you would hardly know that judging by the infrastructure in far-flung communities, that have dirt roads and few economic opportunities.
And for the residents of Pulau Banggi, nothing could be closer to the truth. The unpaved roads mean that in order to go into town and market, they need to wade in shallow rivers instead of walking along proper pavement. Guess which one the crocs call home.
