Man Mauled by Crocodile After Mistaking It for a Statue While Taking Selfies at Philippine Zoo

A terrifying encounter at a zoo in the Philippines has gone viral, raising serious concerns about zoo safety, visitor behavior, and a total lack of common sense.

The incident happened on April 28 at Kabug Island Mangrove and Wetlands Park in Zamboanga Sibugay. According to authorities, a 29-year-old man (whose name hasn’t been released) was visiting the park when he spotted what he thought was a crocodile statue. In reality, it was a very real, very alive, 15-foot-long female crocodile named Lalay.

Thinking it would make for a cool photo, the man climbed over the fence and into the enclosure to snap a few selfies.

“He thought the crocodile was just a plastic decoration,” Police Staff Sergeant Joel Sajolga told reporters, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “He climbed the fence and entered the enclosure — that’s when the crocodile attacked him.”

Caught on Camera: A Deadly Mistake

A video shot by a witness named Cañete Jie shows the man smiling and posing near the crocodile in the water — until everything went horribly wrong.

Lalay suddenly turned her head, lunged at the man, and bit down hard on his arm. Then she latched onto his thigh and performed a death roll — the infamous move crocodiles use to tear apart prey by spinning violently in the water.

According to the University of Tennessee, crocodiles and alligators “can’t chew, so they use a powerful bite and twisting motion — a death roll — to kill and dismember their prey.”

Trapped for 30 Minutes in Agony

As the man screamed in pain, witnesses watched helplessly for more than 30 minutes. Blood filled the water as Lalay kept her grip.

Eventually, a brave zoo handler jumped into the enclosure and struck the crocodile on the head with a concrete block, forcing her to release the man.

“This kind of behavior is extremely dangerous,” said Sgt. Sajolga. “No one should ever enter an animal enclosure at a zoo. He put his own life and others at risk. He’s lucky to be alive.”

Dozens of Stitches, Online Backlash

Paramedics rushed the man to Dr. George T. Hofer Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for serious injuries to his right arm and leg. Reports say he required more than 50 stitches.

“I don’t know why he’d do something so dumb,” said Jie, who filmed the incident. “I’m just glad he survived — and that the crocodile let him go. His leg wasn’t broken, but he had bad wounds on his arm and thigh.”

‘Poor Lalay’: Internet Slams Tourist, Defends Crocodile

The footage sparked outrage online — but not just at the man’s stupidity. Many people were more concerned about the crocodile, Lalay, who was just doing what crocodiles do.

“Poor Lalay! Imagine relaxing in your space and someone climbs in thinking you’re a statue,” one user wrote. “Then you get a concrete block smashed on your head? Some people are just… ugh.”

Another user added, “The zookeeper should’ve hit the guy on the head instead. Hope Lalay is okay — too bad she didn’t get to keep his arm.”

Someone else compared it to a traffic accident: “Calling this an ‘attack’ is like saying a train attacked someone who walked onto the tracks.”

And one user joked: “The croc was probably just trying to help the guy find his best selfie angle.”

A Painful Reminder: Animals Aren’t Selfie Props

This incident is a stark reminder that wild animals, no matter how calm they look, are not there for entertainment. Enclosures exist for a reason — and crossing that line can have life-threatening consequences.