A 29-year-old tourist was severely injured after he mistakenly entered a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines, thinking the crocodile was a statue while taking selfies.
The shocking incident was caught on camera. The man climbed a chain-link fence and entered the water where he posed near what he assumed was a plastic figure. But the crocodile — a fully grown female named Lalay — suddenly lunged, biting his arm and thigh and attempting a death roll. Screams erupted from bystanders during the terrifying 30-minute ordeal.
Zoo staff intervened by hitting the crocodile with a piece of cement, forcing it to release its grip. The man was immediately treated by medics and rushed to a hospital, receiving over 50 stitches.
Local police said the man acted recklessly, mistaking the live crocodile for a decoration. “He is very lucky to have survived,” said Police Staff Sergeant Joel Sajolga.
Authorities are now investigating the incident, and officials are urging the public never to enter animal enclosures, highlighting the danger posed not just to the individual but to everyone nearby.