A harrowing incident unfolded at the Kabug Mangrove Park and Wetlands zoo in the Philippines when a 29-year-old tourist’s day out turned into a nightmare. The visitor, eager to snap a selfie, climbed into a crocodile enclosure, mistaking the massive reptile for a statue. This reckless decision put him face-to-face with a 15-foot-long crocodile named Lalay, who was very much alive and ready to defend herself.
As the tourist waded through the water and pulled out his phone, onlookers shouted warnings, but it was too late. The crocodile swiftly grabbed his arm and clamped down, initiating a terrifying sequence of events. The attack was caught on video, showing Lalay biting the tourist’s arm and thigh, followed by a deadly “death roll,” a powerful twisting motion that crocodiles use to disable and dismember their prey.
The tourist was trapped with the crocodile for 30 minutes, a period that must have felt like an eternity. Eventually, a brave zookeeper intervened, hitting the crocodile on the head with a piece of cement to distract it and free the tourist. Despite the severity of the attack, the man miraculously survived, albeit requiring over 50 stitches.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of disregarding safety boundaries. Police Staff Sergeant Joel Sajolga emphasized the gravity of the situation, warning others against entering animal enclosures at zoos. “This kind of behavior is very dangerous. Nobody should ever enter an animal’s enclosure at the zoo. He put other people’s lives at risk and he is very lucky to have survived.” The tourist’s close call should prompt visitors to respect the boundaries set in place for their safety and the well-being of the animals.
