Couple with child risk their lives canoeing in croc-infested waters of Sungei Buloh
PUBLISHED ONMay 18, 2015 11:42 AM
A couple who was canoeing with their child was spotted trespassing into the crocodile infested waters of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
The incident happened at around 2.30pm yesterday (May 17).
Stomp reader Ben Lee founder of Nature Trekker spotted the couple's dangerous act and alerted the citizen journalism site.
According to him, the trio were canoeing when they trespassed into the inland reserve of Sungei Buloh.
In an email to Stomp, Ben mentioned that the park rules forbid any form of water transport such as boats, canoes to trespass into the reserve.
He added that he was not only concerned that they were trespassing but that their safety could have been jeopardized because of the dangerous act.
In a phone interview with Stomp, he said:
"I saw three crocodile lurking in the water. All of them were very big.
"The family was not aware that there were even crocodiles in the water."
He added that the man on the canoe even put his feet into the water at one point of time.
He also mentioned that he could not get good photos of the crocodiles that day as they were in the water.
He instead chose to send Stomp pictures of crocodiles that he had taken the day before on May 16.
In his email Ben wrote:
"The blackish mangrove river that they took refuge for their short break is infested with crocodiles and one will never know if any of these crocodile will make a surprise grab on the man's leg.
"I have been to Sungei Buloh for over 15 years and have witnessed many shocking sights of crocodiles devouring fishes, birds, large crabs, water monitor lizards and an unsuccessful attempt on an otter. A human flesh would be an added menu to their appetite if opportunity is given.
"The other more worrying factor is what would happen if a canoe were to capsize on such dangerous crocodile infested blackish mangrove river.
"The chances of canoe capsizing is greater than most other boats due to its high center of gravity ( sensitive buoyancy).
"It would be unimaginable to think if a capsize were to happened in this circumstances as the canoeists were not having life jackets on or safety equipments and worst of all, the crocodiles would find them an ideal meal of the day."
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