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Authorities demand closure of Batam crocodile farm after 105 reptiles escape

Batam mayor has expressed concerns that the incident could negatively affect tourism and industry in the region.

Fadli (The Jakarta Post)
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Batam, Riau Islands
Wed, February 5, 2025

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Authorities demand closure of Batam crocodile farm after 105 reptiles escape Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) rescues a 4.5 meter-long saltwater crocodile that entered a residential area in Dendang district, East Tanjab regency, Jambi, recently. (Kompas.com/Suwandi)

T

he Riau Islands Legislative Council (DPRD) has called for the closure of a crocodile farm on Bulan Island, Batam, following the escape of 105 reptiles last month, sparking concerns about potential crocodile attacks on local residents and tourists.

DPRD Speaker Iman Sutiawan said that aside from endangering the public, the crocodile farm, which was managed by PT Perkasa Jagat Karunia, had never contributed taxes to the province in its 36 years of operation.

"We want the farm shut down," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Imam added that according to the management, only one of the 105 escaped crocodiles was still at large. Thirty-eight were captured by Batam authorities in various parts of nearby islets, three were found dead and 66 were recaptured by the farm, as the reptiles reportedly remained on Bulan Island.

"However, this is just the management's claim. Frankly speaking, we don’t believe it. We want the company to keep searching for the remaining crocodiles and to verify the total number of escaped and captured reptiles," he said.

Imam further explained that local councilors visited the farm over the weekend to assess its condition after the escape and to demand accountability from the management in case of future crocodile attacks.

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The crocodiles on the farm escaped on Jan. 13, after days of torrential downpour caused parts of the fence around a breeding pond to collapse.

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