Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island
In the human-crocodile conflict, crocodile attacks on humans pose a serious threat and are becoming a complex conservation challenge in many countries. This study investigates the status and trend of crocodile attacks on humans in Malaysian Borneo (i.e., Sabah and Sarawak) where rivers and estuaries...
Saved in:
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English English |
Published: |
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation
2023
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/1/ABSTRACT.pdf https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/2/FULL%20TEXT.pdf https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/ https://doi.org/10.51200/jtbc.v20i.4638 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
id |
my.ums.eprints.38722 |
---|---|
record_format |
eprints |
spelling |
my.ums.eprints.387222024-05-24T01:20:53Z https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/ Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island Nurul Athirah Ruslan John Madin Slyvester Saimin GB1201-1598 Rivers. Stream measurements QL640-669.3 Reptiles and amphibians In the human-crocodile conflict, crocodile attacks on humans pose a serious threat and are becoming a complex conservation challenge in many countries. This study investigates the status and trend of crocodile attacks on humans in Malaysian Borneo (i.e., Sabah and Sarawak) where rivers and estuaries are inhabited by protected crocodile populations. Results show that between 2001 and 2020, a total of 205 attacks were reported which equals an average of nearly 11 cases per year. The number of attacks in Sarawak is estimated to be between 135 to 164 cases which is twice (p < 0.05) as high as in Sabah (70 cases), indicating a more serious human crocodile conflict in the former. In Sabah, most of the attacks (81% or 57 cases) (p < 0.05) were in the districts of Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Tawau and Sandakan while in Sarawak (82% or 60 cases) (p < 0.05) were in Miri, Sri Aman, Kuching and Betong. Almost 80% (173 cases) of the victims were men between the ages of 30 and 39 who were fishing (42%) (p < 0.05) or bathing (27%) before the attack suggesting that such activities are risky and should be avoided in areas inhabited by crocodiles. Fatality rates of crocodile attacks have been increasing in recent years (i.e., 2015 - 2020) with an average of 10 cases per year. Therefore, control over the number of crocodile populations, especially the large-sized and dangerous individuals, needs to be implemented in high-risk areas. More research is needed to understand the capacity of their habitats to support optimal populations density and minimize conflicts with humans. Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation 2023 Article NonPeerReviewed text en https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/1/ABSTRACT.pdf text en https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/2/FULL%20TEXT.pdf Nurul Athirah Ruslan and John Madin and Slyvester Saimin (2023) Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island. Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation, 20. pp. 1-26. ISSN 1823-3902 https://doi.org/10.51200/jtbc.v20i.4638 |
institution |
Universiti Malaysia Sabah |
building |
UMS Library |
collection |
Institutional Repository |
continent |
Asia |
country |
Malaysia |
content_provider |
Universiti Malaysia Sabah |
content_source |
UMS Institutional Repository |
url_provider |
http://eprints.ums.edu.my/ |
language |
English English |
topic |
GB1201-1598 Rivers. Stream measurements QL640-669.3 Reptiles and amphibians |
spellingShingle |
GB1201-1598 Rivers. Stream measurements QL640-669.3 Reptiles and amphibians Nurul Athirah Ruslan John Madin Slyvester Saimin Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island |
description |
In the human-crocodile conflict, crocodile attacks on humans pose a serious threat and are becoming a complex conservation challenge in many countries. This study investigates the status and trend of crocodile attacks on humans in Malaysian Borneo (i.e., Sabah and Sarawak) where rivers and estuaries are inhabited by protected crocodile populations. Results show that between 2001 and 2020, a total of 205 attacks were reported which equals an average of nearly 11 cases per year. The number of attacks in Sarawak is estimated to be between 135 to 164 cases which is twice (p < 0.05) as high as in Sabah (70 cases), indicating a more serious human crocodile conflict in the former. In Sabah, most of the attacks (81% or 57 cases) (p < 0.05) were in the districts of Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Tawau and Sandakan while in Sarawak (82% or 60 cases) (p < 0.05) were in Miri, Sri Aman, Kuching and Betong. Almost 80% (173 cases) of the victims were men between the ages of 30 and 39 who were fishing (42%) (p < 0.05) or bathing (27%) before the attack suggesting that such activities are risky and should be avoided in areas inhabited by crocodiles. Fatality rates of crocodile attacks have been increasing in recent years (i.e., 2015 - 2020) with an average of 10 cases per year. Therefore, control over the number of crocodile populations, especially the large-sized and dangerous individuals, needs to be implemented in high-risk areas. More research is needed to understand the capacity of their habitats to support optimal populations density and minimize conflicts with humans. |
format |
Article |
author |
Nurul Athirah Ruslan John Madin Slyvester Saimin |
author_facet |
Nurul Athirah Ruslan John Madin Slyvester Saimin |
author_sort |
Nurul Athirah Ruslan |
title |
Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island |
title_short |
Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island |
title_full |
Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island |
title_fullStr |
Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island |
title_full_unstemmed |
Trends of Attacks on Humans by Protected Crocodiles Along Rivers and Associated Habitats in Borneo Island |
title_sort |
trends of attacks on humans by protected crocodiles along rivers and associated habitats in borneo island |
publisher |
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/1/ABSTRACT.pdf https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/2/FULL%20TEXT.pdf https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38722/ https://doi.org/10.51200/jtbc.v20i.4638 |
_version_ |
1800089065874259968 |
score |
13.15806 |