While crocodiles in River Seblak may miss culling step canceled at the last moment, about 1,000 villagers Empelam in Kabong, about 60 kilometers from here, still fear for their safety.
Since 2007 this village was hit by fears following the deadly attack on two villagers and an increasing number of crocodiles in the river.
In fact, since the villagers feel musty and try to avoid any activity on the river that flows in their backyard and it's affecting the daily lives and their income.
"The river is full of crocodiles, including some that can reach the size of a 20-foot," said village chief John Jok, 64 years.
When met at his residence, John, a former civil servant, said in June is the month especially dangerous because the female crocodile began to act aggressively as they spawn season.
"So June of each year, I would advise repeatedly to the residents avoid fishing in the River," he said.
The first victim of reptiles in the village is under attack Thursday Achong in August 2007 and the second is Mankay Goheh victims last May.
He said the body was found Thursday in Nyiar River, about 13 kilometers from the village, while the corpses Mankay undiscovered until now.
Although humans rarely eaten by a crocodile, when the tide in the afternoon reptiles often pounce owned poultry population is under the house, explained Johan.
"I'm afraid to think what would happen if a large crocodiles also hit home stilts in the process," he said.
Johan said, the livelihoods of 28 villagers who depend their livelihood from the river affected by the threat of crocodiles.
"The river is famous for shrimp galahnya Seblak can reach RM40 per kg. If easy money, they can catch up to 50 kg," he said, adding that because of the threat of crocodiles, most of them do not dare to go to the river.
Johan said he got to know the review carried out by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) estimates that there are at least 306 crocodiles in the river from Roban to Sessang.
"We do not know what else to do. We can not shoot them because they are a protected species. Moreover, we are not interested in killing him because some of us believe that this reptile is vindictive.
"I doubt that the local people ready to kill him. Moreover to kill a large crocodile, you need a powerful weapon other than a normal shotgun," he said.
Another option is to engage a specialist or "shaman" to evict reptile, but now is difficult to consider this option because they impose costs can reach up to RM5, 000 or more.
Culling operations for a week, the first of its kind in the area, actually proposed in the third week in July involving the military, the police, RELA, Fire and Rescue Department, sub-district office Roban and locals.
However, this operation is canceled at the last minute due to lack of resources and difficulties in identifying violent crocodiles.
District Police Chief DSP Saratok Lien Phai Lee said the initial plan was to hunt up to 60 crocodiles, which is not less than 2.5 meters and a potential threat to humans.
Meanwhile, general manager Wilfred Landong SFC said the corporation is considering commercial logging activities to get the skin and alligator meat in an effort to control the numbers.
He said the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 which protects reptiles should be amended to allow commercial logging from time to time.
He said in 1961, Sarawak exported 7.245 kg Skin worth RM148, 000, while in 1970 it exported 692 kg worth RM13, 000.
"Based on our surveys done since 1995, the population of crocodiles (crocodylus porosus) in rivers has increased significantly.
"The occurrence of attacks on humans also increase with the number," he said.
Wilfred show that these reptiles commonly found in the 22 river basins in the state and SFC are monitoring the five major rivers in particular Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar, Sungai Sarawak (Left and Right), Batang Saribas and Batang Samarahan.
He said these rivers witnessed most human-crocodile conflict with 42 human deaths were reported from 1980 to 2009.
"Stem Lupar most saw crocodiles attack with 16 deaths followed the Sarawak River with five deaths and four Saribas River," he said.
