When someone is speaking to you, it’s important to listen carefully and not make a joke out of what they’re saying. Rules are often made for our own safety. If you choose to break those rules, you may have to face the consequences. A perfect example of this happened recently when a 29-year-old man in the Philippines risked his life just to take a selfie with a crocodile.
The man visited Kabug Mangrove Park and Wetlands Zoo in Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. While exploring the zoo, he decided to take a selfie with a crocodile. Ignoring the warning signs and safety barriers, he jumped over the fence into the crocodile enclosure. He believed the reptiles were fake statues because they weren’t moving much. “They look like statues, not real crocodiles,” he was saying.
However, his assumption nearly cost him his life.
Crocodile Attack Caught on Camera
The man managed to enter the enclosure and started taking selfies near a female crocodile named Lalay. Within seconds, Lalay—an approximately 15-foot-long crocodile—attacked him. She grabbed his arm with her powerful jaws. The man began to struggle, but the strength of a crocodile’s bite is almost impossible to overcome. Although she didn’t rip his arm off, she quickly released it and bit into his thigh instead.
The bite was severe, and blood started pouring out. Lalay then began the infamous “death roll,” a maneuver crocodiles use to incapacitate and kill their prey. She rolled two to ten times while the man remained trapped in her jaws. The terrifying ordeal lasted nearly 30 minutes.
Eventually, the crocodile handler rushed in and struck the reptile on the head with a large cement rock. The blow forced the crocodile to release the man. He was pulled to safety and immediately treated by the zoo’s medical team before being rushed to the hospital.
Man Risks Life for a Selfie with Crocodile, Nearly Gets Killed in the Philippines
Doctors say it’s a miracle that the man survived. Had the crocodile tightened its grip or continued the death roll for a few more seconds, he could have lost a limb—or even his life.
Just days earlier, there had been a tragic report of a 14-year-old boy who lost his arm to a crocodile in a similar incident. Thankfully, in this case, the young man was luckier. His injuries were severe but not fatal, and emergency care helped stabilize him.
Social Media Erupts with Criticism
The entire incident was captured on camera and uploaded to social media, where it quickly went viral. Millions of viewers around the world condemned the man’s careless behavior and criticized him for disturbing the animals and violating zoo safety rules.
The video shows the man confidently approaching the crocodile and mocking the idea that it was real. Many online users have pointed out the unnecessary risk he took just to create content or prove he was brave.
“You are not there to play hero. Why risk your life just for a selfie?” one user commented.
Where Were the Zoo Guards?
Following the incident, questions have been raised about the zoo’s security. Viewers noticed that it took nearly 30 minutes for zoo staff to intervene. “Why didn’t anyone stop him from jumping the fence? Where were the guards?” one user asked.
There is growing concern about how the man managed to access the enclosure without being noticed. The video clearly shows that no staff member tried to prevent the breach in real-time, and the delayed response could have turned a bad situation into a fatal one.
Zoo officials have yet to issue a full statement, but public pressure is mounting. Animal safety experts are also calling for stricter security measures in zoos, especially in enclosures housing dangerous animals like crocodiles.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of why rules exist in zoos and wildlife parks. These are not playgrounds, and the animals are not props for photos. They are wild, unpredictable, and extremely dangerous when provoked or approached without caution.
Crocodiles, in particular, are apex predators. Their bite force is among the strongest in the animal kingdom, and their death roll is a brutal killing technique. Even trained professionals are extremely cautious when dealing with them.
Visitors are urged to respect barriers, obey posted warnings, and never assume an animal is fake or harmless just because it is lying still.
