The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has killed over 27 crocodiles since the rearmament of the Force in May 2017 until the second week of this month.
“Since the Police Response Team (PRT) was re-armed in May 2017, RSIPF has conducted several operations to manage the crocodile population throughout the country. These operations are conducted following requests from communities after they sight the reptiles in their areas,” says Supervising Director of the National Response Department, Superintendent, Rex Waiwori.
Since May of last year until last week, the PRT has conducted the following operations in certain parts of the country and killed the following number of crocodiles:
West Are’Are, Malaita Province – seven;
Logohuta, in the Isabel Province – one;
Kobulota, Isabel Province - three;
Vona Vona Lagoon, Western Province – two;
Kolombangara, Western Province - six;
Marau, in Guadalcanal Province - four;
Central Islands Province – three;
Vona Vona, Western Province – one.
“I wish to thank members of the community for their cooperation in assisting the PRT operations in trying to control the population of these reptiles in our country. Crocodiles are a danger to the lives of our people so the RSIPF is doing all it can to control any increase in their population,” says Superintendent Waiwori.
He adds: “ I appeal to our communities to report to your nearest police or contact the Police Communication Centre on 23666 or the police toll free 999, any sighting of crocodiles in your areas.