The Crocodile That Became Timor
In Timorese legend, the island itself is the body of a crocodile. A boy once saved it, and in gratitude, it carried him across the sea, and lay down for him to live on.
What was reported
A legend told in Timor-Leste says that long ago a young crocodile, stranded far from water, was dying in the sun. A boy took pity on it and helped it back to the sea. In return, the crocodile carried him on its back across the ocean, on great journeys of exploration.
When the crocodile grew old and was about to die, it told the boy it would become land for him and his children. Its body turned into the island of Timor, with its ridged back forming the mountains.
Explanations offered
The legend is a central story of Timorese identity, and the island's long shape is often compared to a crocodile. Many Timorese call the crocodile 'grandfather' and treat it with respect, though saltwater crocodiles are dangerous in reality.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Dili, Timor-Leste
- Witnesses
- Timorese tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.