Timor-Leste’s traditional elders have expressed their strong opposition to the government’s crocodile management program, saying it goes against tradition.
Coordinator Eugenio Sarmento said crocodiles would not harm people if they were shown respect and their environment was protected.
“I think it is not necessary. Let them live on their own, the important thing is to change people’s mentality and respecting them,” said Sarmento at the Dili Convention Center.
The crocodile is revered in Timor-Leste and according to legend the country was created in the shape of a crocodile.
Sarmento also questioned whether the program was necessary after nets used by the local government in Lautem municipality to keep crocodiles inside a controlled area failed to prevent them escaping outside.
He also called on the government to conduct an in-depth study before implementing the program as some clans considered crocodiles to be their ancestors and believed it was their duty to feed them every year.
Meanwhile, the National Director for Environment, Joao Carlos, said the government had implemented the program for people’s own protection.
Under the plan, crocodiles captured from various municipalities would then be placed in a secure crocodile enclosure in Hera, about 30 minutes east of Dili.
Carlos said government officials planned to hold talks with community elders about traditional ceremonies that needed to be performed before the crocodiles were captured.
“We will work with them (elders) to catch them all and put them in the place that has been provided by the government,” he said.
While there is no official data on crocodile attacks, Carlos said some estimates suggest there have been more than 60 cases between 1971 and 2015, resulting in 46 deaths.
He said the construction of a $215,000 crocodile enclosure in Hera is now 65% complete and is due to be finished by the end of the month.
