BINTULU: A total of 130 pupils and teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Kuala Nyalau joined the Croc Watch Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) programme on human-crocodile interaction safety.
Held at the school hall on Wednesday (April 8), the programme organised by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) targeted preschool pupils as well as Year 1 to Year 6 students, who are among higher-risk groups in crocodile-prone areas.
SFC said the initiative featured a series of interactive and educational activities, beginning with a colouring competition themed “Beware of Crocodiles” and puzzle-based games designed to introduce safety concepts to younger children in an engaging manner.
“For primary school students, an interactive talk was conducted based on the 3M approach – Recognise, Understand and Conserve Crocodiles. The session covered the two crocodile species found in Sarawak, their territorial and defensive behaviour, as well as their anatomy and opportunistic nature.
“Participants were also made aware of how human activities, such as indiscriminate dumping of waste into rivers, can increase the risk of crocodile encounters by attracting the animals to populated areas,” it said in a social media post.
SFC said the programme further highlighted the ecological importance of crocodiles as apex predators that help maintain balance within river ecosystems, while also touching on provisions under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 as a guide for conservation and safety practices.
“The programme successfully delivered key messages on personal safety and the shared responsibility of preserving harmony between humans and wildlife, in line with ongoing efforts to strengthen public awareness through continuous education initiatives,” it added.
