Incident at Zamboang Gashibugai Zoo

A 29-year-old tourist recently found himself in a precarious situation at the Zamboang Gashibugai Zoo in the Philippines. In a strange mix of bravado and poor judgment, he climbed over a fence to take a selfie with a crocodile, mistakenly believing it to be a statue.

As he posed for the photo, a fully grown female crocodile named Larey suddenly lunged at him, clamping down on his arms and thighs. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene, noting that the crocodile’s grip was fierce as she attempted a deadly roll, a common hunting tactic.

This terrifying encounter lasted around 30 minutes. Onlookers could only watch in horror until Larey’s handler stepped in, using a cement block to strike the crocodile on the head, which finally freed the man. Emergency responders quickly wrapped the wounds and rushed him to the hospital, where he received over 50 stitches.

Local authorities revealed that the tourist had entered the enclosure because he thought Larey was a fake crocodile. Several tourists in the area had also mistaken her for a plastic model before the attack unfolded. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.