Approximately a month ago in Sarawak, Malaysia, a crocodile snatched a boy as he swam in a river. The boy’s remain has yet to be found. The locals are trying hard to recover the body but only heaven knows how many crocodiles there are in the river.
The boy is dead. However disheartening the episode is, the locals are being overzealous in their search for the boy. So far according to reports, two crocodiles have been killed. Both crocodiles’ stomach were cut open. For the loss of a human life, two crocodiles have been killed heartlessly. It’s time to stop and accept the fact that the boy is dead.
Though I understand the strong urge to find the body, two wrongs don’t make a right. Though perhaps I might not comprehend the parents’ grief, two wrongs still don’t make a right. This is beyond justice. This is simply revenge. I’d like to think we humans are better than this:
The crocodile, with its four legs tied, was taken to the Bako National Park boat terminal after news of its capture spread like wild fire, prompting villagers from Kampung Bako and surrounding areas to gather at the terminal since early morning eager to see the animal.
Before that, water was pumped into the live crocodile’s mouth, causing it to vomit out bones believe to be that of a dog and monkey.
Mohd Azuan’s father, Hatta Abidin, 36, and mother, Maria Kepli, 34, who were among the crowd at the terminal, were not satisfied and a decision was made to dissect the crocodile’s stomach to determine if it was the same crocodile that took away their son’s life.
I’m disgusted by the way the the locals treated the reptile. Dare do I ask, do they plan to cut all the reptilians’ stomach open until — if ever — they found the body?
The boy is dead. It’s time to accept it. It’s far better for us as a society to devise ways to live harmoniously with other beings rather than engage in our thirst for blood.
Please spare the rest. Stop the senseless killing.
p/s – according to Utusan Malaysia, three crocodiles have been killed (via):
KUCHING 2 Okt. – Empat ekor buaya telah ditangkap dan tiga daripadanya dibunuh serta dibelah perut, namun penduduk Kampung Bako, dekat sini masih kebingungan kerana tidak ada tanda-tanda bahawa reptilia tersebut membaham kanak-kanak berusia 12 tahun, sebulan lalu.
Sorry, too busy to actually translate the paragraph into English. Regardless, if you think that fact makes this whole event more inhumane and angering, wait to you read this in the Utusan’s article:
Dalam pada itu, para wartawan yang membuat liputan mengenai tangkapan buaya besar itu dihalang oleh para petugas Sarawak Forestry.
Mereka dihalang merakamkan gambar ketika buaya itu dibelah perut.
Difahamkan, Sarawak Forestry bimbang jika gambar buaya yang dibelah disiarkan dalam akhbar seperti dua ekor buaya sebelum ini, ia akan dipertikaikan oleh masyarakat.
Whereas wildlife authority is supposed to protect wildlife, they’re going on a killing spree instead. And they fear the possibility the public would question their consent for the killing…
