Sarawak crocodile hunters land 4.75m giant in Batang Igan

Licensed hunters have captured three crocodiles in Sungai Batang Igan near Sibu, including a 4.75m giant. Villagers at Ulu Kampung Kebuaw asked for help after frequent sightings. The catch shows why the Sarawak crocodile now worries riverside communities.

The largest animal weighed an estimated 500kg. Hunters caught it at about 2.30am on 6 October. Villagers then helped lift it onto a boat.

The catch also raises a wider question. Sarawak must protect people beside its rivers, while its crocodile population recovers.

Hunters answer a village’s call

Licensed hunter Jeferry Siew Seng Kwong led the operation with a four-member team. They began on 3 October. Crocodiles of about 2.44m and 2.74m followed on 4 and 5 October.

The giant came last. Jeferry told Bernama that residents sought help after frequent sightings. One crocodile had attacked a pet dog, he said, “causing concern among the villagers”.

The team also found a nest with about 40 eggs. Bernama did not say what happened to the crocodiles or the eggs. It thanked the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, or SFC, for its cooperation.

Jeferry has held a hunting licence for two years. In that time, he has captured over 100 crocodiles. Bernama reported no human injuries in this case.

Why crocodile encounters are rising

Sarawak’s crocodiles nearly vanished in the 1980s through overexploitation. A survey cited by Reuters puts the population at more than 25,000 in 2024. Fatal attacks have followed the recovery.

The same report says 22 people died between 2023 and 2025. Five more have died so far in 2026. Still, the SFC says attacks have declined compared with 20 years ago.

SFC general manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran said crocodiles may appear more often near settlements. He said they find food more easily there. However, The Rakyat Post adds that the SFC also points to riverside development. It also cites communities with no alternative to the river.

Still, the grief is real. Headman Daniel Muking lost his son to a crocodile in May 2024. “It has eaten my child, so I have every right to kill it,” he told Reuters.

Balancing safety and conservation

The state now issues hunting licences and works with licensed hunters. Reuters says authorities and communities relocate crocodiles away from rivers near settlements. Deputy Natural Resources Minister Len Talif Salleh said officials must balance conservation with the safety of riverside communities.

Sarawak also launched the Sarawak Croc Watch app in September 2024. It lets people report sightings and flag hotspots. The data goes straight to the SFC. The Rakyat Post said uptake was low at first.

Meanwhile, hunts do not always end the same way. In June, a Bintulu team said it would sell meat from two crocodiles over 5m. The price was RM35 to RM65 per kg, to cover costs. That was a separate case from Batang Igan.

Another Sarawak crocodile hunt took place in Kuala Baram in September. Working with the SFC, a licensed team caught three crocodiles there. It urged residents not to approach or catch crocodiles themselves. If you see one, report it to the authorities straight away