Transcript
STANLEY RIOLO: Yes it is becoming a concern now because the number of crocs in the country has increased very rapidly at the moment.
KOROI HAWKINS: And they are a protected species right? So locals can't or people aren't allowed to go and kill them themselves?
SR: Yes that is one of the setbacks because they are a species that is controlled at the moment. Which is one of the reasons why the locals are unable to actually go out and hunt them.
KH: So when are you called in when would you get a call or in what situation or scenario would the Solomon Islands police get a call to go out and address a crocodile problem?
SR: Normally we only respond when the elders from the community seek assistance. That is in a situation when the crocs attack any member in the communities or animals or it has become a threat to the people in that particular area.
KH: Right and then you would head out. So this would involve you going out to the provinces and you have got enough have you been given the gear and what do you need to catch and kill a crocodile?
SR: We used to have, when RAMSI was here we used to have traps to catch them. We put bait into those traps and then we catch them and it is from there that we shoot them. But now we only have weapons to actually destroy them when there is a report to respond to.
KH: So you are basically going crocodile hunting?
SR: At the moment the PRT (Police Response Team) only look after that area of responsibility but we dont have a squad that actually involves in the hunting of the crocs.
KH: Right so it is the police response team that is tasked with doing this right now?
SR: Yes
KH: And that is partly because only a select few officers in particular this unit is actually armed in Solomon Islands and has the capability.
SR: Yes that is right.
KH: Have you had a crocodile call out since, I know RAMSI only left last month but has there been an incident come up that you needed to address already?
SR: Since RAMSI left we are yet to receive any calls from the communities to respond to. But before yes we accompanied our counterparts to actually attend to those reports but since they left we are yet to receive any calls for assistance.
KHSo you know what to do if a call does come through.
SR: Exactly, yes that is right.
KH: And what does it involve sorry going back to, in your with your current capability without the traps what would your approach be if you got a call that a crocodile was bothering a village?
SR: If a croc is seen in a community and is bothering that particular community we only respond with Remington 700 bolt (action) rifles and that is the only weapon that we have to destruct the animals.
KH: And is it enough? Is that powerful enough?
SR: Yes they are strong to actually, if you it them in the right position it only takes one round to actually put that animal down.
KH: Right and where about is that is that behind the eye or on the head?
SR: Between the eyes or right in the forehead.
KH: Right how big a problem is it? How often did you get a call out under the PPF and are you expecting call outs going forward?
SR: I think one of the recent incidents that involves these creatures actually attack one of the eight year old girl in the western province. That is the latest incident that happened to these crocs actually attacking people.
KH: And when was that?
SR: That was last month, early last month.
KH: Early last month, and you went and dealt with that problem?
SR: Yes my operators went with the advisors before they actually left and I think they shot 21 crocs in that particular area I think.
KH: They killed 21 crocodiles.
SR: Yes
KH: And do they know if they got the one that bit the girl?
SR:The one that got the girl was actually killed by the relatives of that small girl before my operatives actually arrived at the scene.
KH: Right so yours was more a culling exercise.
SR: Yes.
KH: Just out of interest over the course of say the past year how many call outs have you had?
SR: The past year I do not have the figures at the moment because the calls would come through our PPF advisors and our advisors went straight to the reports. I would just say that from the communities that send in their requests for attendance to the incidents they normally go out twice a month.
KH: Twice a month that is quite regular.
SR: Yes very regular.
KH: It sounds like you, there needs to be a discussion about a wider national crocodile culling program?
SR: I think now that RAMSI has gone, we will need to discuss this with the ministry responsible. So that we will work together with that ministry so that we will have a plan in place to actually attend to incidents of such nature.
KH: And that is the ministry of environment?
SR: Yes?
KH: Right and in the law that protects crocodiles if they become a menace there is provision is there for you to go out and kill them?
SR: Yes that is why we need to work with the ministry responsible so that we, they actually give us the power to actually respond to these calls.
KH: Oh so you dont have the power at the moment? It is not legal.
SR: What I am saying is that so they also know what we are actually doing.
KH: Right are you proud to be in charge of this area that was obviously formerly a PPF (Participating Police Force under RAMSI) area?
SR: Yes with the heart to actually help our people out there it is a sad situation when something goes out of hand especially with these creatures. Sometimes you feel sad about the situation that when they ask for assistance and you are not responding. And you feel really good about the thing that you do to actually assist your people out there. So yes I am really proud of the current position that I am in at the moment.