KOTA KINABALU, Feb. 28 -- Public awareness and behavioural change are key to reducing crocodile attacks in Sabah, says biology experts warning that enforcement alone will not solve the problem.

Crocodile experts at Danau Girang Field Centre said that despite increased sightings in urban areas, the attacks occur in rivers in rural areas not at sea, often when people swim, fish or wash at the same spots repeatedly.

"Swimming in rivers is dangerous by itself. Crocodiles observe patterns. If you go to the same place every day, they learn," said DGFC's crocodile conservation officer Sai Kerisha Kntayya.

She said that attacks are rarely spontaneous and therefore avoidable if people were more aware.

Crocodiles often exhibit territorial behav...