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.