A stray estuarine crocodile shocked people at the popular Teluk Chempedak beach in Kuantan last night.

The 3m-long reptile, weighing about 200kg, was promptly caught by eight personnel of the Civil Defence Department from Kuantan after they were summoned at 8pm.

Kuantan Civil Defence assistant officer Mohamad Irwanis Seni said the crocodile was handed over to the Pahang Wildlife and National Parks Department at midnight.

Pahang Wildlife and National Parks director Khairiah Mohd Shariff said the animal was released into its natural habitat at 1.30am today.

She said the crocodile had most probably strayed from its natural habitat along the Kuantan river during high tide and was unable to return when the tide ebbed.

She also said that the Teluk Chempedak beach was not a playground of crocodiles and the people should not fear going there.

- Bernama