Iban community perception towards the legalization of crocodile hunting (Tr. Jangin, Kejemut Skrang, Sri Aman & Tr. Peter Rantau Bidai Sungai Mujong Balleh, Kapit) / Jufenna Jack and Linda Jerry

As in 2016, crocodiles have been removed from the list as agreed by CITES at the conference in Johannesburg as refer to the Malaysia’s proposal to down list the saltwater crocodile to enable it to be hunted and trade for commercial purpose. The permit to hunt and kill the crocodile will be issued to local people. The study examines the perception of Iban community, who has the taboo in crocodile killing toward the legalization of crocodile hunting in the standpoint from two different villages. A sample size of 152 villagers have selected from both villages to fill in the questionnaires and interviewed on their understanding of the crocodile taboo. The villagers’ perception and acceptance toward the legalization were examined. The Iban community have moderate understanding regarding the crocodile taboo. Iban community with different level of education has different perception and acceptance toward the legalization, in which those with higher education perceive the legalization as the right action that should be taken. Iban community has a different perception and acceptance toward the legalization based on their level of generation, in which the baby boomer generation are more against the legalization and perceive the action as not the great solution. The Iban community from two different villages which are from Tr. Jangin Kejemut , Sri Aman and Tr. Peter,Rantau Bidai Kapit have no different perception and acceptance toward the legalization of crocodile hunting. There is also no different in the acceptance of Iban community toward the legalization regardless they do have or do not have any experience in human crocodile conflict. The study shows that different factor have different impact on the perception and acceptance of Iban community toward the legalization.