THERE is much relief for villagers of Buri in North Ranoggah, Western Province, when one of the two often sighted crocodiles was killed.
Reports reaching Solomon Star said the crocodile was killed in the past week when it went ashore in a mangrove area and got trapped.
It was revealed that a family was returning home by canoe in the evening when they saw the reptile at their seafront.
As the croc attempted to get away, it got trapped inside the mud and it got speared and died almost instantly.
The croc was several metres long and was one of the two crocodiles often sighted moving around the Buri Harbour, the reports said.
The killing of croc has provided some relief to the villagers living at the edge of the mangroves.
Buri Harbour is filled with mangroves, which offer a lovely spot for crocs to hide.
Since the sighting of the two crocs last year, there was mounting concern by villagers over the safety of especially mothers and children when they go out for a swim in the sea or travel by canoe.
The latest croc sighting was more than a week ago, when one of the two reptiles came ashore to a private seafront.
It was revealed that the presence of the reptiles could only be identified when dogs keep barking at night.
Several dogs have already been attacked and eaten by the crocs.
Reports reaching Solomon Star said the two crocodiles were often sighted in Buri Harbour at night.
A villager, Sauni Lesimata, who spotted one of them inside the harbour one evening on his way home by canoe, had expressed fear that if the crocs are not killed, their population would increase, posing greater safety risks to locals.
Meanwhile, Buri villagers said they will continue to kill crocs to ensure there are no safety threats.
The croc population in the Western Province has increased greatly after the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) got rid of all rifles from registered rifle owners as part of their Solomon Islands Guns-free Campaign.
In the past, rifles have been used to kill these cold-blooded reptiles.
Since the removal of rifles by RAMSI, many lives have been lost due to croc attacks.
Recently, a man from Rendova lost his life in croc during a diving trip.
In the Roviana Lagoon and Kolombangara, croc attacks are common.
By MOFFAT MAMU
