The Swift Wildlife Action Team (SWAT) of the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) on Sunday put an end to a 2.5-metre long male crocodile from the Sarawak River here, under its crocodile culling and removal programme.

SFC in a statement here said the SWAT operation in the major waterway that began last Tuesday, ended yesterday with the catch.

"The operation covered a three-kilometre stretch, with seven separate sets of 'hook-and-line' installed. The crocodile snared at the Sarawak River Barrage at 6 am this morning is estimated to weigh 70kgs and it was hauled ashore at 11 am," it said.

The Sarawak River is listed as a location of one of the 19 Crocodile Removal Zones (CRZ), whereby the presence of crocodiles in these areas pose serious human-crocodile conflicts.

The CRZs established are mostly located at highly-populated areas, recreational areas, such as resorts, riverbanks, waterfronts, schools, clinics and therefore, the presence of crocodiles in these areas is not tolerated.

-- BERNAMA