On social media, many viewers stunned after viral video shows tourist savagely attacked by crocodile after mistaking it for a statue in zoo enclosure
A shocking crocodile attack unfolded in a Philippine zoo when a tourist climbed into an enclosure for a selfie, mistakenly believing the reptile was a statue.
A tourist entered the crocodile enclosure to take selfies
A 29-year-old man visiting the Kabug Mangrove Park and Wetlands in Zamboanga Sibugay ignored safety barriers and entered a crocodile pen to take photos.
Believing the 15-foot-long reptile named Lalay was a statue, he climbed over a chain-link fence and waded through shallow water.
The man smiled and pulled out his smartphone, preparing to snap a selfie beside the seemingly motionless creature.
Bystanders screamed at him to retreat, but it was too late. Lalay suddenly lunged, sinking her teeth into his arm in a savage ambush.
Onlookers watched in horror as the crocodile launched a violent and sustained attack
Witnesses captured disturbing footage of the crocodile clamping her jaws around the man’s arm as he screamed in pain and struggled to escape.
The animal then bit into his thigh and performed a vicious death roll, a technique crocodiles use to rip prey apart.
For up to 30 minutes, the man was trapped in the water, bleeding and helpless as the predator refused to release him.
Lalay’s caretaker bravely entered the enclosure and struck the crocodile with a piece of cement to force her to let go.
One person said: This type of stupity is why aliens won’t talk to us
A second wrote:Crocodile done exactly what the crocodile was suppose to do the human on the other hand
While a third commented: What did he think would happen, it wasn’t going to cuddle him
Someone else said: He got 50 stitches and thankfully he survived after 30 minutes of trying to get out of that crocs. I wonder where he put his brain. Lol
Anpother user added: Wot did he exspect the croc to smile with him
I KNOW he seen that white light when that croc did the roll with him. Someone else said,
The victim suffered serious injuries and required dozens of stitches after the incident
The man was pulled from the water, with cloth wrapped around his wounds to slow the bleeding until emergency responders arrived.
Authorities condemned the dangerous stunt and warned others to respect zoo safety barriers
Police criticized the man’s actions, stating he endangered not only himself but also the lives of zoo staff and other visitors.
“This kind of behavior is very dangerous,” said Sgt. Sajolga. “He is very lucky to have survived the crocodile attack.”
Locals claimed the man ignored warning signs and walked into the shallow pool to pose with the crocodile for social media content. Witnesses said Lalay appeared motionless at first, contributing to the confusion over whether she was real.
The zoo has not commented, but the incident sparked outrage
The Kabug Mangrove Park and Wetlands has not issued a public statement regarding the incident. Footage from the attack quickly spread online, sparking widespread criticism of the tourist’s careless behavior.
Onlooker Canete Jie expressed disbelief, saying, “I don’t know why he would do such a stupid thing, but I’m glad he’s alive.
Despite the terrifying encounter, the tourist reportedly did not suffer broken bones but sustained serious soft tissue damage.