Sarawak sees surge in crocodile attacks amid growing population
Villagers in Sarawak, Malaysia, are experiencing a rise in crocodile encounters as the state's crocodile population rebounded to over 25,000 in 2024. Between 2023 and 2025, crocodile attacks have caused 22 deaths, including five fatalities in 2024, prompting the Sarawak state government to issue hunting licences and launch a mobile app for reporting sightings.
Authorities are working with licensed hunters and local communities to relocate crocodiles away from rivers near settlements. The Sarawak Forestry Corporation notes that while encounters have increased, attacks have declined compared with two decades ago. Deputy Natural Resources Minister Len Talif Salleh emphasized the need to balance wildlife conservation with community safety, and Forestry Corporation general manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran explained that crocodiles are drawn to settlements by easy food sources. The incident that sparked renewed concern involved Daniel Muking's son, who was killed in a crocodile attack in May 2024.
Entities: Abang Arabi Abang Aimran · Daniel Muking · Len Talif Salleh · Sarawak Forestry Corporation · Sarawak state government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Len Talif Salleh said authorities must balance wildlife conservation with the safety of riverside communities. (Reuters report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Sarawak state government began issuing hunting licences and launched a mobile phone application for the public to report crocodile sightings. (Reuters report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Crocodile attacks caused 22 deaths between 2023 and 2025, with five fatalities in 2024. (Reuters report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Authorities collaborated with licensed hunters and local communities to relocate crocodiles away from rivers near human settlements. (Reuters report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Daniel Muking's son was killed in a crocodile attack in May 2024. (Reuters report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Sarawak Forestry Corporation said crocodile attacks have declined compared with 20 years ago. (Reuters report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The crocodile population in Sarawak reached more than 25,000 in 2024. (survey cited in Reuters report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Abang Arabi Abang Aimran said crocodiles may be appearing more frequently near human settlements because they can find food more easily there. (Reuters report)