- The Copper Crocodile of Teluk Baguala is a Maluku folktale about a revered guardian crocodile summoned to Buru Island to defeat a giant serpent preying on marine life.
- After a fierce three-day battle, the Copper Crocodile wins by exploiting a brief opening, killing the serpent and restoring peace to the coastal ecosystem in the story.
- As gratitude, the animals gift the crocodile a tagalaya of fish that later multiply in Baguala lagoon, feeding a local belief that the crocodile’s appearance signals plentiful fish.
The Legend of the Copper Crocodile in Teluk Baguala is one of Maluku’s enduring folktales. It tells of a crocodile that defeats a giant serpent—an apex predator that had long terrorized other animals and threatened their survival.
The story is retold in the following article: “Legenda Buaya Tembaga di Teluk Baguala, Cerita Rakyat dari Maluku.”
According to Yulhendri’s “Buaya Tembaga Teluk Baguala,” included in Antologi Cerita Rakyat Pulau Ambon dan Pulau-Pulau Lease, a massive crocodile once lived in Teluk Baguala. The creature was widely known as the Copper Crocodile.
Local people around Baguala lagoon regarded the Copper Crocodile with deep respect. They treated the waters of Baguala as a safe place for the animal, ensuring it was left undisturbed.
Far away on Buru Island, the tale continues, a huge and vicious serpent lived by the sea. It coiled itself around a mintanggor tree standing near the shore.
The serpent’s presence disrupted life along the coast, particularly for creatures of the sea. Fish and crocodiles were repeatedly hunted down and devoured.
Crocodiles on Buru, the story says, tried again and again to fight the serpent. But each time, the snake prevailed, killing every challenger that approached.
With fear spreading and losses mounting, fish and crocodiles convened a council to seek a solution. They debated ways to defeat the giant serpent and restore peace.
In the midst of the discussion, a shark offered a key suggestion. It spoke of a powerful crocodile living in Teluk Baguala—an animal said to possess extraordinary strength.
That crocodile, the shark said, was known as the Copper Crocodile. The shark believed the guardian of Baguala could defeat the serpent that had shattered the calm of Buru’s waters.
The fish and crocodiles then sent envoys to Teluk Baguala. Upon arrival, they explained the situation and presented their request to the Copper Crocodile.
The Copper Crocodile accepted the plea from Buru’s envoys. It set off with them, heading toward the serpent’s territory.
When they arrived, the Copper Crocodile received a warm welcome from the animals on Buru. Two days passed, and the appointed day for confrontation finally came.
The Copper Crocodile went straight to the serpent’s lair. Arrogant and overconfident, the giant snake belittled the newcomer it had never seen before.
The battle broke out without delay. The Copper Crocodile and the serpent traded violent attacks, each pressing forward with relentless force.
Before long, the fight had dragged on for three days. Still, there was no clear sign that either side was close to defeat.
Then the serpent launched another strike at the Copper Crocodile. The crocodile sensed it in time, dodging swiftly.
In that instant, the Copper Crocodile spotted an opening. It whipped its tail, knocking the serpent down and leaving it helpless.
The Copper Crocodile then bit into the serpent’s head. The reign of terror on Buru ended with the giant snake’s death at the crocodile’s jaws.
Animals across Buru cheered in relief. They presented the Copper Crocodile with a tagalaya filled with fish—parang-parang, make, and salmaneti—to take back to Teluk Baguala as a reward.
The fish, the legend says, later multiplied in Baguala lagoon. To this day, local belief holds that when the Copper Crocodile reveals itself, those fish will appear in abundance in the waters of Teluk Baguala.
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