Licensed crocodile hunters in Malaysia's Sarawak state are conducting nighttime operations to relocate or eliminate crocodiles after a rise in attacks.
These operations are critical for residents who rely on the river systems for their daily livelihoods. The surge in predatory behavior has turned essential waterways into high-risk zones for the local population.
Working with authorities, the licensed teams patrol the rivers of Sarawak under the cover of darkness. They utilize high-powered searchlights to locate the reptiles in the water, a method designed to spot the reflective eyes of the crocodiles.
The current efforts follow a period of significant violence in the region. Between 2023 and 2025, crocodiles attacked 33 people [1]. Of those incidents, 22 people died [1].
Depending on the specific encounter, the hunters aim to either relocate the animals to safer habitats or cull them if they are deemed a persistent threat. These measures are intended to reduce the frequency of encounters between humans and the predators in shared environments.
The Sarawak government coordinates these efforts to ensure that the removal of the animals is handled by professionals. This approach seeks to balance the safety of the community with the management of the wildlife population.
“Crocodiles attacked 33 people between 2023 and 2025.”
The escalation of crocodile attacks in Sarawak highlights the growing tension between human settlement and wildlife habitats. As communities continue to rely on river access for survival, the necessity of licensed culling operations suggests that traditional coexistence strategies are currently insufficient to prevent fatalities.
