MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2001
Killer croc shot dead
By George Francis
MIRI - A killer crocodile dubbed "Dara Subis" was shot dead on Saturday by General Operation Force (GOF) sharpshooter, about 22 hours after it lunged and grabbed a 10-year-old schoolboy bathing in the Niah river.The protected estuarine reptile was shot twice in the head, according to a wildlife ranger after the sanction to kill was granted by the Niah National Park Headquarters.
The female crocodile, measuring 15 feet long, snatched Jaba anak Kana in its jaws while he was bathing near a pontoon where his mother and cousin were washing clothes around 4pm on Friday.
Only minutes earlier, it was said that Jaba was asked by his mother to go home but asked for one last jump into the water.
The frantic mother jumped into the water and grappled with the crocodile, hoping it would release the boy.
The reptile had its jaw around the boy, who was holding onto his cousin. The crocodile dragged the boy down under but resurfaced later.
The monstrous crocodile didn't let go and swam to the middle of the river, gripping the boy, who was still calling out for help. The 33-year-old mother rushed to paddle about to help while the cousin ran for assistance.
The search and rescue attempt carried out by the villagers till night before police and GOF organised the next day's operation.
At Batu Niah, 150km from here, where the dead crocodile's belly was dissected, only the victims severed arm and leg was found.The victim's father, overcome by grief grabbed a wooden stake and stabbed it in the neck and genitalia.
Villagers said such an incident has not occurred for the past 30 years.
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