Rangers from the state wildlife rescue unit trapped the 2m-long reptile at Taman Ujana Rimba Tropika yesterday.

Sabah wildlife department director Augustine Tuuga said it was first seen in the area last December.

“We received reports of the crocodile sunbathing on some plastic pylons just opposite the park,” he said in a statement.

It was captured in the drain at a location opposite to the Wisma Muis building.

Tuuga said incidents of human-crocodile conflict had increased in Sabah in the past several years, adding that some had resulted in human deaths.

“This is because of an increase in the crocodile population due to an effective conservation programme for the last 30 years,” he said.

Sen Nathan, who heads the wildlife rescue unit, said some people had wanted the wildlife department to leave the reptile alone.

“They told us to just put up signs to warn people about the crocodile but, unfortunately, this would not work in an urban area like Kota Kinabalu,” he said.

The monsoon drain is connected to drainage systems in housing areas in the nearby Luyang and Foh Sang neighbourhoods.

“Pets such as dogs and cats would be fair game for this reptile,” he said. “Once it grows bigger, it will be a serious risk to small children and adults. This was why this crocodile had to be removed from the location.”