Contest To Save Croc With Tyre Around Neck Cancelled

Story ByLee Bullen,Sub EditorJoseph Golder,AgencyAsia Wire Report

A contest to save a wild crocodile that has lived with a motorcycle tyre around its neck since 2016 has been cancelled because no one in the community dared to take part.

The Central Sulawesi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Central Sulawesi) has announced the contest to remove the tyre from around the neck of the crocodile often spotted in the Palu River in the Indonesian province of Central Sulawesi.

Reports said the crocodile, which measures four metres (13 feet) in length, was first spotted with the tyre around its neck in 2016.

AsiaWire

The local authorities and conservationists have previously tried to catch crocodile to help it, but failed to do so.

The agency then announced that it was offering an unspecified reward for anyone who manages to “save the crocodile from the tyre”.

However, after the contest failed to attract any interest, BKSDA Central Sulawesi head Hasmuni Hasmar told local media: “Yes, we are ending the contest.”

Hasmar confirmed: “We will not give up. We have prepared equipment for the team.”

Hasmar said that they are currently assembling a special team with the assistance of the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s Biodiversity Conservation Directorate General, according to local media.

The BKSDA Central Sulawesi head did not specify which methods the team would adopt to catch the croc and remove the motorcycle tyre.

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