A 29-year-old man was attacked by a crocodile at Kabug Mangrove Park and Wetlands Zoo in Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines, on April 28, 2025.
Eric Saladaga Vista climbed over a chain-link fence and entered a shallow pool with a 4.5-metre female crocodile named Lalay. He thought the crocodile was a statue.
Vista went into the enclosure to take selfies with what he believed was a display. The NZ Herald reported on the incident.
The crocodile attacked Vista when he was posing for photos. It bit his arm first.
Visitors at the zoo shouted warnings as the attack happened. The crocodile then bit Vista’s thigh and performed a death roll—a movement crocodiles use to overpower prey. Vista was thrown around in the water during the attack.
Vista remained in the enclosure for about 30 minutes. The crocodile’s handler came to help by hitting Lalay on the head with a piece of cement, which made the animal let go.
Medical staff treated Vista’s wounds at the scene before taking him to hospital. He needed more than 50 stitches for deep cuts on his arm and thigh.
Police Staff Sergeant Joel Sajolga from Siay Municipal Police said Vista had mistaken the crocodile for a statue because it was lying very still.
“He climbed the fence and entered the enclosure, and the crocodile attacked him,” Sajolga stated.
Sajolga added, “This kind of behavior is very dangerous. Nobody should ever enter an animal enclosure. He’s very lucky to be alive.”
The zoo staff did not stop Vista before he went over the fence. The zoo has not made any statement about the incident.
