A shocking incident at Kabug Mangrove Park and Wetlands Zoo in the Philippines serves as a stark reminder: wild animals, even seemingly still ones, are not props for our photo opportunities. A 29-year-old tourist, Eric Saladaga Vista, learned this lesson the hard way after mistaking a formidable 15-foot crocodile for a mere statue and jumping into its enclosure for a selfie.
Eyewitness video captured the unbelievable scene as Vista scaled a chain-link fence and waded into the murky water, completely oblivious to the danger lurking beneath the surface. His intention? To pose for a picture with the massive reptile, a female named Lalay, under the misguided assumption that she was nothing more than a stationary decoration.
The illusion shattered in a terrifying instant. As Vista positioned himself for his ill-conceived photograph, Lalay, very much alive and undeniably powerful, lunged forward. Her jaws clamped down on his arm, the initial bite a brutal awakening for the oblivious tourist. The ordeal escalated as Lalay then latched onto his thumb, attempting the dreaded death roll – a maneuver designed to incapacitate prey.
For a harrowing 30 minutes, Vista remained trapped within the crocodile’s domain, his screams of pain echoing as the powerful reptile held him captive. Finally, a quick-thinking croc handler intervened, bravely striking Lalay’s head with a piece of cement until she released her grip.
The aftermath left Vista with over 50 stitches after a frantic rush to the hospital. Reflecting on the incident, Police Staff Sergeant Joel Sajolga of the Siay Municipal Police minced no words, stating, “The tourist was walking around the area, then he saw the crocodile, which he thought was just a plastic fixture.” He further emphasized the sheer recklessness of Vista’s actions: “He climbed the fence and entered the enclosure, and the crocodile attacked him. This kind of behaviour is very dangerous. Nobody should ever enter an animal’s enclosure at the zoo. He put other people’s lives at risk, and he is very lucky to have survived.”
This incident serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of respecting wildlife and adhering to safety regulations in animal parks. Crocodiles are apex predators, and their seemingly still nature can be deceiving. For Eric Saladaga Vista, the desire for a unique selfie resulted in a painful and potentially life-threatening encounter, a harsh lesson learned that a crocodile is unequivocally not a statue.
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