Crocodile attack in Indonesia: Man dies brutally on the river bank!

Crocodile attack in Indonesia: Man dies brutally on the river bank!

Palu, Indonesien - In Indonesia, a serious incident has again drawn attention to the dangers of crocodiles. A man was found dead on the banks of a river after a crocodile attacked him. An eyewitness reported that the man had left his clothes on the bank before going into the water. Shortly afterwards, the witness saw a crocodile that behaved suspiciously. An hour later, the animal reappeared in the mouth with the man's body and dragged it around 200 meters. When the villager threw stones to the crocodile, it dropped out from his prey, but the man was already dead when he was recovered. The police asked the residents to be careful on the river because it is a popular habitat for crocodiles. Already in May of this year there was a fatal crocodile attack in a channel on Sumatra.

The frequency of such attacks is alarming. Between 2015 and 2024, 1,167 crocodile attacks were registered in people in Indonesia, more than in any other country, with 556 of these attacks ended. The inguinal crocodile (Crocodyylus Porosus), the largest and most dangerous crocodile that is widespread in Southeast Asia, is particularly affected. Fischer report an increasing number of crocodile views that were rare a few years ago. The causes of this are diverse. According to reptile experts Amir Hamidy, population growth and environmental changes contribute to the increase in conflicts between humans and crocodiles. New habitats for these animals are created in regions such as Eastern Calmantan and Bangka Belinge, where mining and agriculture are expanding.

The alarming statistics

From different reports it can be seen that Indonesia records most of the attacks by salt water crocodiles worldwide. According to a database, there were a total of 179 attacks in 2022, 92 of which were fatal. In a direct comparison, only seven attacks were recorded in Australia, in which three people died. These figures illustrate the extent of the dangers that people in Indonesia are exposed. Fishermen have some frightening stories of survival fights with these animals, in which they lost limbs. A fisherman from Central Sulawesi described an attack four years ago, in which he fought with a crocodile and managed to free himself through a stab.

• Indonesia: 1,167 attacks between 2015-2024, 556 of them fatal
• Australia: 7 attacks in the same period, 3 dead

Another worrying factor is the failure of security and protective measures. In Indonesia, warning systems are missing that could help people avoid potential attacks by crocodiles. Unlike in Australia, where there are established protective measures, the Situation in Indonesia is questionable. Experts advocate measures for better coexistence between people and these dangerous animals to prevent future attacks.