A permit has been issued to hunt man-eating crocodiles in Sungai Seblak near the Saratok district, about 350km from Kuching.

Contacted by Bernama , acting Saratok police chief ASP Zamrul Ahmad Tahir said the permit, issued by the Sarawak Forestry Department, was only for crocodiles measuring above 2.7 metres in the river.

“Hunting of man-eating crocodiles is now allowed in Sungai Seblak, with the use of the permit, following a meeting with the Sarawak Forestry Department and the Saratok District Office today,” he said.

He said with the permit approved, the police, with the help of the Armed Forces and Malaysia People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) were now waiting for the right time to carry out the hunt.

However, the decision on the actual date to carry out the hunt would only be decided after a meeting with the Saratok District Office on July 9.

On June 19, a woman, Siah anak Munsong, 42, was killed by a crocodile nicknamed ‘Bujang Seblak ’.

Her death is the fourth involving residents in the vicinity of Sungai Seblak, due to crocodile attacks since 2007.

According to Zamrul, residents from the Sungai Anak Long House near Sungai Seblak had sought the aid of a ‘medicine man’ to kill the crocodile.

- Bernama