Veteran environmentalist Prof Maketab Mohamed said the whole culling process must be backed up with solid scientific data and that it was crucial to keep an inventory on the species, length and number of crocodiles in each river.
He said other parameters which needed to be considered by the authorities were how many crocodiles were allowed to be removed in each river system, the minimum length of each crocodile allowed to be culled, and how they would be culled.
Maketab said the season for hunting must also be considered and that there should not be any culling during the months when crocodiles bred. The gender of the crocodiles must also be taken into account.
“What is the methodology to be used for monitoring or documenting the number of crocodiles to be killed? Every kill must be reported with evidence.”
The former Malaysian Nature Society president added that the timeline for the culling also needed to be made clear.“Will the culling be stopped when a pre-set number of crocodiles are killed? Or would it be stopped within a stipulated time line, for instance, after a year?”
Maketab also questioned which agency would be managing the culling, giving permits, monitoring and carrying out enforcement.
He wondered how those who did not comply with guidelines would be punished.
Similarly, Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia (EcoMy) CEO Andrew Sebastian said he hoped the culling of crocodiles would be done humanely with strict protocols in place to ensure there was no abuse by those seeking to make a quick buck.
“The protocols and procedures must go hand-in-hand with awareness efforts among the local communities.”
This, he said, was crucial because the locals could help the authorities monitor the situation.
Yesterday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) had agreed to allow the wild harvest of crocodiles in Sarawak for commercial use.
Wan Junaidi said there was a demand for crocodile meat from China, Thailand and Vietnam. Crocodile skin also had high economic value.