Festival highlights importance of crocodiles

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A FESTIVAL hosted in East Sepik last week highlighted the importance of crocodiles to the communities there and their cultural significance to the Sepik River people.
Sepik River Crocodile and Arts Festival president Alois Mateos said the three-day cultural event which started last Monday ended on a high note, making it a success.
The festival into its 13th year, was staged at Ambunti on the border of the Middle and Upper Sepik River.
The Sepik River is one of the largest rivers in the Asia-Pacific region and is home to some of the world’s largest freshwater and saltwater crocodile populations.
Speaking from Wewak, Mateos said about 44 groups from other districts participated in this year’s event.
Mateos added that tourists as usual flocked into the Ambunti Station from countries like Germany, the United States, Cambodia and Italy.
He noted that this year’s event received a lot of support from stakeholders, thus surpassing the festival’s budget of K260,000.
Mateos thanked sponsors such as Bank South Pacific, Mainland Holdings, National Development Bank, Finance Department, Tourism Promotion Authority and Ambunti-Dreikikir District Development Authority among others.
“We had about 40 tourists,” Mateos said.
“Festival was very successful, 44 participating groups, Dreikikir, Angoram, Wosera – fairly extensive participation
“Our budget (for hosting the festival) was K260,000, but we raised K315,000.”