KUCHING, March 6 — Forty of the 42 crocodile attacks recorded in the country in the last five years took place in Sarawak, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim revealed today.
The attacks were also the most common type of wildlife attack registered locally, she added.
Speaking to a press conference yesterday, she said since its establishment in 2005 till 2013, the Wild Animal Attack Victims Aid Fund has disbursed about RM1.7 million to 348 victims or families of wildlife attack victims.
Rohani said to qualify for the fund, the victim or the next-of-kin should first apply with the Community Welfare Departments, before the case could be examined and verified by the Forestry Department or Wildlife and National Parks Department, and the Medical Department.
“Amount claimable can be up to 100 per cent or RM20,000, depending on the seriousness of the attack,” she said.
Attacks involving deaths, coma or permanent injuries like loss limbs, total loss of eyesight or hearing, permanent mental damage, permanent hearing loss, permanent loss of speech, permanently bedridden or permanent paralysis are qualified to claim 100 per cent.
Those with partial loss of eyesight or partial hearing loss could claim up to 50 per cent. Those who loss of one hand up to the wrist or fingers could claim up to 40 per cent. For venomous snake bites, injuries which required 10 stitches or above, or loss of toes can claim up to 30 per cent.
“The smallest claim is 10 per cent which include injuries caused by venoms, allergies or infections, and flesh wounds,” added Rohani.
Of the 348 cases nationwide from 2007 till 2013, Kedah tops the list with 123 wild animal attacks, followed by Kelantan (69), Sarawak (43), Terengganu (30), Perak (19), Perlis (14), Pahang (13), Negeri Sembilan (12), Selangor (8), Malacca (5), Sabah (5,) Johor (4) and Penang (3).
After crocodiles, wild boar attacks were the next most common, with 36 cases, followed by snake bites (19) and bears (2).
