Berbak park to have crocodiles

Berbak park to have crocodiles

JAMBI, Jambi: Thousands of freshwater crocodiles (Tomistoma
schegeli) and estuary crocodiles (Crocodilus porosus) are thought
to dwell in Jambi's Berbak National Park, the head of the
provincial office for nature conservation, Romon Palete, said
yesterday.

"The estimate was made by Australian crocodile researcher Mark
R. Bezuijen late last year," he said.

Palete said Bezuijen had mentioned that one crocodile had been
found within a four-kilometer radius area within the park.

"The Berbak National Park measures 150,000 hectares and has
about 20 estuaries. Thus, the research said, there could be
thousands of crocodiles in the park," Antara quoted him as
saying.

The Berbak forest was designated a national park in 1992 and
is one of the largest estuary forest conservation sites in
Southeast Asia.

The park is now both a tourist attraction and a center for
research on rare flora and fauna.