Water activities at Sentosa resume a week after crocodile spotted

The Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has allowed water activities to resume around the island, a week after a crocodile was spotted in the waters off Sentosa Cove.

No further sightings

In a social media post on Feb. 8, SDC said that there had been no further sightings of the crocodile around Sentosa waters since Jan. 31.

This comes after daily surveillance and coordinated patrols conducted by SDC and the National Parks Board (NParks).

Based on the current assessment, SDC has said water activities, such as swimming, kayaking, and organised events, can immediately resume.

SDC advised members of the public to "adhere strictly to safety signage and instructions on the ground".

If a member of the public should encounter or see the crocodile, SDC advises contacting NParks' Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.

Joint team

A crocodile was spotted off the waters at Sentosa Cove on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

This resulted in SDC pausing water activities at Sentosa’s Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong beaches, although the beaches themselves remained open.

Meanwhile, an SDC and NParks joint team was activated to search for the animal.

Naval sighting

Five days later, on Feb. 4, a crocodile was spotted in the waters off Changi Naval Base, more than 20km away.

The sighting was reported by the Republic of Singapore Navy’s own social media.

It is unknown whether it is the same crocodile as the one spotted at Sentosa Cove, but it was last spotted swimming out into the Singapore Strait.