Saltwater Crocodile - Attacks On Humans

Attacks On Humans

The saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodilians in existence. Additionally, they are highly opportunistic and territorial predators compared to other crocodilians (such as the American alligator and other smaller species of crocodiles and caimans). They have a strong tendency to treat humans in their territory as prey, and have a long history of attacking and consuming humans who stray into their territory. Given their enormous power, size and speed, survival of a direct predatory attack is unlikely if the crocodile is able to make contact. In distinct contrast to the American policy of encouraging a certain degree of habitat coexistence, the only safe policy for dealing with saltwater crocodiles is to avoid their territory whenever possible as they tend to be highly aggressive when encroached upon.

Actual data on attacks is limited outside of Australia. In Australia, attacks are somewhat rare and usually appear in national news publications when they do occur. There are approximately one to two fatal attacks reported per year in the country. The low level of attacks may be due to extensive efforts by wildlife officials in Australia to post crocodile warning signs at many at-risk billabongs, rivers, lakes and beaches. In the large Aboriginal community of Arnhem Land, attacks frequently go unreported. There have also been recent, less-publicised attacks in Borneo, Sumatra, eastern India (Andaman Islands), and in Burma.

Many attacks in areas outside of Australia are believed to go unreported, with one study positing that approximately 20 to 30 attacks occur every year. Some attacks appear to be territorial rather than predatory in nature, with crocodiles of over two years in age often attacking anything that comes into their area (including boats). Humans can usually escape alive from such encounters, which comprise about half of all attacks. Non-fatal attacks usually involve crocodiles of 3 m (9.8 ft) or less in length. Fatal attacks, most likely predatory in nature, commonly involve larger crocodiles with an average estimated size of 4.3 m (14 ft). Under normal circumstances, Nile crocodiles are believed to be responsible for many more fatal attacks on humans than Saltwater crocodiles, despite being slightly smaller in size. This is most likely because of the many people in Africa who rely on riparian areas for their livelihood, which is less prevalent in most of Asia and certainly less so in Australia.

During the Japanese retreat in the Battle of Ramree Island on 19 February 1945, saltwater crocodiles may have been responsible for the deaths of over 400 Japanese soldiers. British soldiers encircled the swampland through which the Japanese were retreating, condemning the Japanese to a night in the mangroves which was home to thousands of saltwater crocodiles. Another notorious crocodile attack was in 1985, on eco-feminist Val Plumwood.