BESUT - A stray saltwater crocodile found wandering in a rubber plantation near Kampung Padang Buluh was successfully captured by the Terengganu Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).
Terengganu Perhilitan director, Loo Kean Seong stated that the crocodile, which weighed 80 kilogrammes and measured 2.7 metres in length, was captured by a team of Perhilitan officers on Tuesday night.
He stressed that the operation was initiated after receiving a report from local residents about the reptile's sighting.
"We received a call from the villagers around 10pm regarding the crocodile’s presence, and we deployed eight Perhilitan officers to the location.
"The captured crocodile was safely returned to its natural habitat earlier that afternoon,” he said when contacted on Wednesday.
In a related development, he added that it was believed the crocodile originated from a nearby lake.
He speculated that it had lost its way into the rubber plantation area, and there were concerns it could become aggressive and attack if it were starving.
"The public was urged to report any wildlife sightings in their area to Perhilitan immediately.
"Residents were also discouraged from uploading videos or pictures of such animals on social media, as it might pose a threat to the wildlife involved.
"Moreover, doing so could inadvertently attract the attention of illegal hunters,” he warned.