KOTA KINABALU, Feb. 28 -- Increased crocodile sightings in urban areas across Sabah, including Kota Kinabalu, do not indicate a growing population, but rather natural dispersal driven by habitat changes and food scarcity, says crocodile expert Sai Kerisha Kntayya.

Sai Kerisha, a PhD researcher at the Danau Girang Field Centre(DGFC), said saltwater crocodiles have always existed in Sabah's rivers and coastal areas, but are now being seen more frequently in drains, lakes and urban waterways.

"This is actually very normal. Crocodiles have always been here but have largely been dwelling in rural areas away from human territory. What we are seeing now is dispersal - individual crocodiles moving around to find food and new territory," she sai...