Malaysia coastal works may be why croc sightings here are rising: Experts

At least 20 of these reptiles in Singapore today, mostly at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, says expert

Two estuarine crocodiles spotted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on May 17, 2015. The animals have been making a comeback since they were declared extinct here in 1996. PHOTO: BEN LEE
An NParks officer shines a torchlight across the water during night surveillance for a crocodile at Lower Seletar Reservoir. PHOTO: NPARKS
Floating cage traps designed by NParks to catch the crocodile. The cages were 4.5m long and used chicken meat as bait.
PHOTO: NPARKS
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Crocodile enthusiast Bernard Seah, 49, said: "Many (in the community) think that aggressive development of the Malaysian coastline facing Singapore may have pushed out crocodiles in those areas, causing them to swim over the strait to Singapore."

But Mr Seah, who has volunteered at the Sungei Buloh reserve for nine years, stressed this was just a partial explanation and that it is hard to track their movements.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 09, 2019, with the headline Malaysia coastal works may be why croc sightings here are rising: Experts. Subscribe