00:01In the dark waters of Malaysia's Sarawak state, hunters scan the riverbank for a predator, hiding just beyond the light.
00:10Sometimes all they see are a pair of glowing eyes. Sometimes the crocodile bites back.
00:18Licensed hunter Jeffrey Siu patrols these rivers at night, working with authorities and communities to relocate or eliminate crocodiles considered
00:29a threat.
00:30He says sightings here can be surprisingly common.
00:34If we calculate it over half a mile stretch in the Kamana River area in Bintulu, where we are currently
00:40working, we sometimes see as many as four crocodiles every 220 yards.
00:47At Riverside Longhouse Rumapanjang Daniel, the danger is deeply personal for one family.
00:53In May 2024, Nicholas Daniel disappeared after leaving home to catch fish for his cat.
01:00Three days later, his body was found. His head and half his torso were all that were left of him.
01:07For his father, Daniel Mooking, the attack shattered a long-held belief.
01:12In the old days, the elders said that if a crocodile did not disturb us, we should not disturb it.
01:19That was a taboo.
01:23But for me, it has eaten my child, so I have every right to kill it. I also want to
01:28eat its flesh if I can.
01:31As crocodile encounters draw growing concern, wildlife authorities say more sightings do not necessarily mean there are too many crocodiles.
01:40The population still rely, rely on the river.
01:43Sarawak Deputy Natural Resources Minister Lenta Lifsalis said authorities must balance wildlife conservation with the safety of riverside communities.
01:53But for communities that depend on these rivers every day, the risk feels immediate.
01:58Between 2023 and 2025, crocodiles attacked 33 people in Sarawak, killing 22 and enduring 11.
02:07The state has already recorded nine attacks in 2026, including five fatalities.
02:14CU's team says it eliminated the crocodile that villagers identified as the one responsible for Nicholas' death.
02:21And as crocodile carcasses are hauled ashore, measured and processed, the tension is delivering an unexpected by-product.
02:30Crocodile meat has found its way onto restaurant menus, where diners stock in with enthusiasm.
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