Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has rescued three newly hatched false gharials (Tomistoma schlegelii), an endangered freshwater crocodilian species, from a fishing settlement in Teredu Hamlet, Mempawah District, West Kalimantan.
Head of the Pontianak Marine Management Center Syarief Iwan Taruna Alkadrie said in an official statement received here on Monday that the discovery confirms the Mempawah Hulu River ecosystem continues to support the presence and reproduction of the rare species.
He noted that false gharials in West Kalimantan had previously been documented primarily in Kapuas Hulu and Ketapang districts.
The three hatchlings, known locally by the indigenous Dayak Kanayatn/Ahe community as “Baringayong,” each measure approximately 33 centimeters (13 inches) in length.
The rescue operation was launched following reports from local residents that crocodile eggs had hatched near the settlement, along with indications that the animals were at risk of being trafficked.
In response, the center’s quick response team was deployed to secure the hatchlings, gather evidence, and interview local residents.
An initial remote clinical examination by a specialist veterinarian found the hatchlings to be in relatively good condition. However, remnants of their yolk sacs were found on their abdomens, posing a potential risk of infection if left untreated.
The hatchlings are currently receiving intensive care and are being kept in an incubator at the center’s temporary shelter. They will remain there until their physical condition stabilizes and they have fully recovered.
Alkadrie emphasized that the discovery provides an important data point for mapping the distribution of false gharials in West Kalimantan, while also offering insights into the current condition of their habitat.
Environmental changes, including the degradation and fragmentation of peat swamps, changes in river flows, and fluctuations in the availability of natural prey, must be closely monitored to ensure the long-term sustainability of the habitat, he added.
The ministry strongly urged the public not to catch, keep, or trade false gharials. The species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Uyu Liman
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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