Tourist Mauled by Crocodile After Mistaking 15-Foot Reptile for Statue at Philippine Zoo

A 29-year-old tourist in the Philippines thought it was a great idea to hop a fence, wade into a pond, and take selfies with what he thought was a fake crocodile.

A 29-year-old male tourist sustained severe injuries after climbing into a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in southern Philippines, mistakenly believing the massive reptile was a statue. The shocking incident occurred at the Kabug Mangrove Park and Wetlands Zoo in Zamboanga Sibugay and was captured on video by horrified witnesses.

The man reportedly scaled a chain-link fence and waded through a shallow pool inside the enclosure, producing his smartphone to take selfies next to the seemingly motionless 15-foot female crocodile, named Lalay. Onlookers shouted warnings, but before the tourist could retreat, Lalay lunged forward and sank her teeth into his arm.

The man climbed into a crocodile enclosure in the Philippines to take a selfie and was savagely mauled by the animal

Gruesome footage shows the tourist screaming in agony as the crocodile clamped her jaws around his arm and refused to let go. Lalay then latched onto the man's thigh and initiated a death roll—a violent spinning maneuver crocodiles use to maim or dismember their prey.

According to reports, the tourist remained trapped inside the enclosure for nearly 30 minutes, crying out in pain as the predator refused to release him. The situation was finally brought under control when Lalay’s caretaker entered the enclosure and struck the crocodile on the head with a piece of cement, prompting her to release the injured man.

The man was trapped in the pen for over thirty minutes before he was taken to hospital where he received more than 50 stitches

Emergency responders at the scene wrapped the man's wounds in cloth to control the bleeding and rushed him to a local hospital, where he received over 50 stitches to his arm and thigh. Despite the brutality of the attack, the man’s leg was not broken.

Police Staff Sergeant Joel Sajolga of the Siay Municipal Police confirmed that the tourist had believed the crocodile was a lifeless display. “He climbed the fence and entered the enclosure, and the crocodile attacked him,” Sajolga said. “This kind of behavior 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.”

The visitor thought the beast was a statue but was trapped in its jaws when he got too close to take a picture

Zoo staff were reportedly present at the time but were unable to prevent the man from breaching the barrier. Local residents, who documented the incident on video, expressed disbelief at the tourist’s actions. Witness Canete Jie said, “I don’t know why he would do such a stupid thing, but I’m glad the man is alive and the crocodile just let him go.”

The zoo has not released an official statement regarding the incident. Authorities have reminded the public to exercise extreme caution and follow safety guidelines when visiting wildlife attractions.

The selfie-hunting tourist is savagely attacked by a crocodile inside its zoo enclosure, after mistaking the 15ft beast for a statue'