SANDAKAN – A juvenile crocodile was successfully captured by the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) after it was found beneath a stilt house bridge in Kampung Tinusa, Batu 7, early Thursday morning.
The 1.5-metre-long, 16-kilogramme crocodile was spotted by villagers around 1.30am, prompting them to contact the security team.
Sandakan APM officer Captain (PA) Sulaiman Salama stated that a team was dispatched to the location, 5.6 kilometers away, to capture the young crocodile.
"The informant saw the crocodile under the bridge outside his home, entangled in a rope, while tidying his boat.
"Concerned for his safety and that of the villagers, he immediately contacted the emergency line," Sulaiman said.
The reptile capture operation utilised special equipment. The team used a snare and took about half an hour to secure the crocodile.
Once caught, personnel covered its eyes with a blanket and restrained the animal.
The crocodile will be handed over to the Wildlife Department for further action. The operation concluded at 2.16am.