SARAWAK’S LAGENDARY WHITE CHROCODILE: BUJANG SENANG

The name Bujang Senang given by Orang Iban; which refers to the legendary crocodile was named in conjunction with Senang River located in Batang Lupar where the crocodile are often found. Bujang Senang was feared and attacks against human, berserk and devour human around Sungai Batang Lupar. The legendary Bujang Senang measuring 20 feet long and has a white stripe on his back. Crocodiles are said rampant in this river since, 1941. The story of the male crocodile was bandied amongst the locals.

According to Iban legend, a powerful warrior named Simalungun from Saribas was incarnated in the body of a crocodile after he died in battle some 200 years ago. Before he died in a battle, he vowed to seek revenge on his enemies and their descendants in his reptilian form. It is said that when he was buried in the bank of the Saribas River, he transformed into a huge white crocodile.

The life of the legendary crocodile ends after it pounce its 14^th prey, a 20 year old girl named Dayang anak Bayang in May 1992. Enie Bayang and accompanied by his friend which is a shaman named Mandau, went to look for her missing sister. After 2 hours of searching, they found her sister’s corpse near the gulf of Pelaban River and were still in good condition. Moments after that, the crocodile emerged and the shaman quickly hurled his spear to it but the spear broke while shots were fired by Enie but their efforts didn’t seem to kill the crocodile.

Bujang Senang makes a run for it towards Batang Lupar however the attempt was stunted by a huge log passing by the Pelaban River. The villagers from Pelaban, Suduku and Lingga rushed to the place and hunt down the legendary crocodile. About 40 shot we fired which ends the life of the legendary crocodile and 22 of the shots hit to the head of the crocodile. The skull of Bujang Senang was displayed at the Jong’s Crocodile Farm.