Evacuation of three juvenile false gharials reveals new habitat in West Kalimantan
The Pontianak Marine Management Office has evacuated three baby Sinyulong crocodiles (Tomistoma schlegelii) from a fisherman’s house in Teredu Hamlet, Anjungan Dalam Village, Mempawah Regency, revealing that the Upper Mempawah River system serves as a nesting site and active breeding habitat for the species.
“The three fully protected animals, which the Dayak Kanayatn/Ahe people call baringayong, each measure around 33 centimetres and are now undergoing temporary rehabilitation at the Pontianak Marine Management Office,” said Head of the Pontianak Marine Management Office Sy. Iwan Taruna Alkadrie in Pontianak on Saturday.
He said the finding is an important record, as it demonstrates the presence of Sinyulong crocodiles along the Upper Mempawah River system.
“The presence of newly hatched hatchlings indicates that the Upper Mempawah River ecosystem still serves as a nest and active breeding ground for this fully protected species,” Iwan said.
The evacuation was carried out after the Pontianak Marine Management Office received a public report on 20 August 2026 regarding baby crocodiles that had hatched from eggs at a fisherman’s house and were suspected of being intended for trade.
The Rapid Response Team of the Pontianak Marine Management Office, together with expert practitioners, then visited the location, conducted verification, gathered statements, and examined the condition of the animals in accordance with animal welfare standards.
Initial examination results through online consultation with a veterinary specialist, Dr Rio from North Sumatra, showed that the condition of the three hatchlings was generally quite good. However, their sex could not yet be determined because they are still small.
The three hatchlings also still have remnants of yolk sacs on their abdomens. This condition requires monitoring to prevent absorption disorders that could trigger infection.
“During rehabilitation in incubation, we will monitor their development,” Iwan said.
The team subsequently verified the locations suspected of being egg nests in Anjungan and Toho Districts. Both areas lie within a single interconnected river landscape and, according to local residents, have long been a habitat for Sinyulong crocodiles.
Iwan said the finding is important for conservation because the Sinyulong population has so far been predominantly identified in Kapuas Hulu and Ketapang Regencies. The discovery in Mempawah opens up new information about the distribution of the species in West Kalimantan.
He urged the public not to capture, trade, or harm Sinyulong crocodiles and to immediately report the presence of nests or individual animals to officials.
“The Sinyulong does not attack, but defends itself,” Iwan said.
The Sinyulong crocodile is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is included in Appendix I of CITES. In Indonesia, the animal is a fully protected species under the provisions of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
Iwan added that with the addition of the three Sinyulong hatchlings, the Pontianak Marine Management Office is now rehabilitating four baby crocodiles, including one estuarine crocodile hatchling measuring around 38 centimetres.