Man considers calling NEA after spotting baby crocodile in Lim Chu Kang, netizens urge him to leave it alone

Baby crocodile spotted beside Lim Chu Kang Road, photographer decides to leave it alone

Near a bus stop along Lim Chu Kang Road, a man was shocked to spot a baby crocodile in a small body of water just metres from the roadside.

Initially alarmed and considering contacting the National Environment Agency (NEA), he later decided against it after wildlife enthusiasts urged him online to leave the animal undisturbed.

Baby crocodile spotted sunbathing next to Lim Chu Kang Road

27-year-old finance executive Xie Xukang told MS News that he was searching for water birds in Lim Chu Kang at around 2.50pm on 22 Nov.

His search led him to a remote stretch of Lim Chu Kang Road near the Police Coast Guard base.

There, he noticed a “lizard-like animal” on the bank of a small water body. Taking a closer look, he realised it was a baby crocodile about 50cm long, resting and sunbathing on the bank.

The reptile slipped into the water once it noticed his presence.

Man worries crocodile could pose danger due to proximity to road & bus stop

Mr Xie said he was startled as he did not expect crocodiles to appear in the area, assuming they would live closer to the coast.

He even wondered whether the juvenile might have escaped from a farm.

There was also concern that it could become dangerous as it grew larger. The crocodile was only about three metres from the road and roughly 50m from nearby bus stops.

Mr Xie later posted his “surprise findings” in the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group, asking: “Should I call the NEA?”

Photographer decides not to call NEA after reading netizens’ explanations

Many wildlife lovers in the group urged him not to intervene.

“Just leave nature alone. You walked into their home and [are] thinking of removing them?” one user wrote.

Another netizen explained that baby crocodiles often stay in smaller water bodies to avoid predators.

One commenter added that crocodiles have long inhabited the Lim Chu Kang area, even before kampungs existed there.

Mr Xie told MS News that the comments dissuaded him from calling NEA as he did not want to disturb the wildlife.

“I feel that people really love and care for wild animals,” he said. “It was fascinating to know a wild croc can be spotted in the Lim Chu Kang jungle.”

Also read: Crocodile seen on road in Lim Chu Kang, search for reptile ongoing

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Featured images courtesy of Xukang Xie.