Visuals of crocodile in Kuala Lumpur river go viral online

Several agencies were activated to capture the crocodile.PHOTO: SANGRATU18/X via The Straits Times/Asia News Network

The sighting of a crocodile in a river in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 20 has snapped the attention of many online users.

In a post on X at 1.21pm on Feb 20, user @sangratu18 said the reptile was spotted in the Klang River between Gardens Mid Valley and KL Eco City.

She had spotted the crocodile from a bridge connecting the two locations, and said this was a small upgrade from the usual monitor lizards seen in the water.

READ: Man in Malaysia bitten by crocodile during toilet break

The post has drawn about 600,000 views, 4,100 retweets and 7,500 likes as at 10pm the same day.

Some social media users responded to the sighting with humor, including one who said the crocodile had travelled to KL to uplift spirits.

Meanwhile, another user said they would drop by the area on the weekend because seeing the reptile reminded them of their home in Sarawak.

READ: Malaysian woman comes under fire for hugging crocodile

At about 6pm, a user on X said officers from the National Parks Department were seen on-site, alongside those from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall – the city council which administers the Malaysian capital – as well as the Malaysia’s Civil Defence Department.

Videos posted on Facebook by Malaysian news outlets showed the officers lowering a cage into the Klang River in an attempt to capture the crocodile.

Quoting Brickfields police chief Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood, the New Straits Times reported that the relevant agencies had been present since the afternoon.

He added that a boat was deployed in the river to locate and capture the reptile, and that traps would be set to lure it.