KOTA TINGGI: The rare sight of a crocodile crawling across the road in the dead of the night brought a brief moment of awe to a passer-by here.

       Sebana Cove Fire and Rescue Department chief Mohd Khairul Dahari said the crocodile was spotted lingering around the area.

       “We received a call from a passer-by about the crocodile sighting at 12.04am. Sixteen firemen from two fire stations were deployed to the scene to capture the reptile.

       “Upon arrival, we found that the 15-foot (4.57m) crocodile was still moving on the side of the road and was surrounded by curious members of the public.

       “After clearing the area, we took between 15 and 20 minutes to capture the crocodile with the assistance of Rela,” he said yesterday.

       The operation ended at 1.40am, he added.

       Mohd Khairul said the crocodile was later handed over to officers from the Wildlife and National Parks Department to be released to its natural habitat.

       “There were no injuries spotted on the crocodile and we believe the reptile may have come from Sungai Lepau nearby,” he said.

       He advised the public to always seek assistance from the department to capture wild animals and to never take matters into their own hands.