Why do alligators attack people? Massive attack of crocodiles on people

The worst attack of crocodiles on people in history occurred a few months before the end of World War II - on February 19, 1945.

Japanese don't go into the jungle

More than one thousand Japanese soldiers died in the terrible and terrible hot Burmese swamps.

The cause of mass death was not fierce battles with the enemy, but attacks by combed crocodiles, which are found in abundance in these places.

Operation Matador began on January 14, 1945. British troops from the 29th Indian infantry division- We landed on the almost paradise island of Ramri.

The goal of the operation was to capture the port and airfield located in the north of this Burmese island, captured by the Japanese army.

Of course, a Japanese garrison was already waiting for the British troops on Ramri. But the British attacked quite successfully, during land battles and with the support of ships, they gradually pushed the Japanese inland.

Captivity for salvation

The fighting only stopped on February 17, when the Japanese themselves went south to join the Allied forces.

The path there passed through a swampy area, and the British military did not have uniforms not only for fighting, but generally for being in such conditions. Therefore, the British did not pursue the enemy.

Although there is a well-founded version that they specifically allowed the Japanese garrison to retreat into these mangrove swamps. From the very beginning, Japanese soldiers there were regularly attacked by other enemies - snakes, mosquitoes, scorpions and other creatures.

However, on the night of February 19, they were attacked by a much more terrible large and terrible enemy - crocodiles. As a result, almost 1 thousand people were eaten by voracious reptiles in just one night.

Only 22 soldiers and three officers remained alive, whom the brave British immediately captured, to the great joy of the captives.

At night - only sounds

This was a terrible event for them, perhaps the worst of all such mass contacts with predators in the entire history of mankind.

At night, the surviving soldiers heard only terrible sounds, but the next morning a terrible picture appeared before them.

In the black slurry of the swamps, the bloody parts of the bodies of their comrades floated, which were pecked by vultures. It was clear that many of them were crushed or eaten alive.

This crocodile attack was included in the Guinness Book of Records, calling it the worst reptile disaster that has ever happened in the world.

By the way, combed crocodiles were already well known as the most aggressive and dangerous animals. They tear apart a buffalo's skull in a few seconds.

Alligators, crocodiles, caimans and their relatives kill hundreds of people every year. Although most attacks occur in Africa and Asia, these powerful reptiles are found in a number of places. South America, Australia and the southern USA. Humans are not normally part of the diet of crocodiles, but they essentially eat whatever they can catch. In addition, they bravely defend their own territory, especially during the breeding season. The best way to stay safe around crocodiles is to respect their privacy and be careful around bodies of water where they may be found. In the event of an attack, you have a chance to escape if you act thoughtfully.

Steps

Part 1

Preventing an attack

Find out where crocodiles live and stay away from such areas. The only reliable way to survive in areas where there are crocodiles is to avoid encounters with them. Crocodiles are found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Various types Crocodiles live in both fresh and salt water. If you live in or visit the tropics, check with local authorities to find out where crocodiles, alligators or caimans live before approaching any bodies of water.

Be extremely careful near bodies of water where crocodiles live. More than 90% of crocodile attacks occur in or near water. Crocodiles usually live in stagnant or slow-moving water where there is a lot of mud and vegetation. Most often they can be found among mud and swampy areas. They can also live in lakes, ponds, rivers (including estuaries), man-made canals and temporary bodies of water. Saltwater crocodiles can be found on the beach and even in open ocean!

Find out when crocodiles are most dangerous. Although crocodiles can attack at any time, they are most dangerous at dusk and at night. Be aware of the dangers during the daytime, and even more so, try to stay away from the water after sunset.

• If you are forced to be near a body of water where crocodiles live at night, use headlights or a flashlight and look around often.

1. Be even more careful during the breeding season. Crocodiles and alligators are most aggressive and dangerous during the breeding season. In addition, during this period, crocodiles more often come to land and make transitions in search of a mate or a suitable place for a nest. Female crocodiles are especially ferocious and selflessly defend their nests.

   Constantly monitor your surroundings. If you happen to be near or in the middle of a body of water where crocodiles live, do not let your guard down. Remember that crocodiles are very good at camouflage, and even a giant reptile can show only its nostrils from under the water. Be especially careful near muddy, marshy areas and riparian vegetation. In such cases, it is best to assume that even if you do not see the crocodile, it is hiding somewhere nearby.

   • Keep a safe distance from the water when walking along the shore, and avoid areas with coastal vegetation where crocodiles may be hiding.
   • When threatened, a crocodile may hiss. If you hear a crocodile hissing, try to determine where it is coming from and move away as quietly and quickly as possible in the opposite direction.

2. Do not walk your dog near areas where crocodiles or alligators may live. Crocodiles are attracted to the movements and sounds made by small animals. For example, American alligators often attack dogs. If you do walk your dog near water, keep it on a leash and pay attention to any movement in or near the water.

   Do not allow small children to play near water or leave them unattended in areas where crocodiles are found. Crocodiles prefer to hunt small targets and therefore often attack children.

   Not feed crocodiles or alligators. While feeding, these reptiles lose their natural wariness towards people and begin to associate them with food. Never feed crocodiles intentionally and try not to do it accidentally: for example, do not throw fish remains or other fish into the water. food waste.

   • Not Even small crocodiles should be fed. Remember that a fifty-centimeter crocodile can eventually grow into a three-meter monster, which will still associate food with people. This is dangerous both for the animal itself and for the people it may encounter.

3. If you plan to camp in an area where there are crocodiles or alligators, choose a site away from water. Place your tent at least 2 meters above the highest nearest body of water and at least 50 meters from the water's edge. Look around the area to see if there is any food scraps or debris left around from those who may have camped before you. This type of waste can attract crocodiles, so clear the area before setting up your tents. Keep food out of the reach of animals and dispose of food scraps and trash away from the campsite.

   If you spot a crocodile on land, remain calm and try to slowly move away to safety. Do not attempt to approach the animal, attack it, or force it to move. If you find a crocodile in locality, for example, in a garden or parking lot, first move to a safe distance and then call the police or wildlife society.

4. If a crocodile enters your property, RUN. If you suddenly come across a crocodile or it starts moving towards you, run away as quickly as possible. Although crocodiles are fast swimmers, on land their maximum speed is about 17 kilometers per hour - most people can run short distance with greater speed.

   • Run from water so that other crocodiles do not get in your way.
   • Contrary to popular belief, you should not run in zigzags: it is best to run away from a crocodile in a straight line. People (and other animals) run fastest along a straight line.

Part 3

How to survive an attack

1. • If the crocodile simply bit you and then let you go, then it was probably defending itself. In this case, do not try to attack the reptile and try to move to a safe place as quickly as possible.
   • However, if the crocodile does not release its grip, it will most likely try to pull you into the water. In this case, you need to attack the reptile to force it to let you go.

This misconception is replicated not only by guides, but also by various travel sites. I quote one of them: “...the Chao Phraya River is still flowing - muddy, with yellow water, very wide. Crocodiles in this river are not a rare phenomenon, quite the contrary. According to statistics, up to 20 people die from their teeth every year in Bangkok.”

Scary? Will you now not ride along the Chao Phraya River on river trams? Don't be afraid. This is outright nonsense.

I don’t know who invented all this. There are no such statistics in nature. Perhaps one of the Russian tourists or guides is in a state of mild (or moderate) alcohol intoxication I saw a two-meter monitor lizard in the Chao Phraya River, mistook it for a crocodile and away we went. Rumors spread quickly and acquire new details as they spread. And now, referring to statistics, you can scare tourists: “Crocodiles eat twenty people in a year in Bangkok!”

I repeat once again - there are no such statistics. Or it exists only in the fevered imagination of the one who came up with it. Crocodiles in Bangkok do not eat people; on the contrary, people in Bangkok eat crocodiles in restaurants.

It must be said that it is impossible to find reliable data on how many people a year are eaten by crocodiles around the world on the Russian-language Internet. There is a lot of yellowish information about man-eating crocodiles in the spirit of horror films (“Crocodile Gustav ate 300 people in Burundi”, “In Uganda, a crocodile destroyed a third of a fishing village”). But there is no scientific data at all.

At the same time, such data is available on the English-language Internet. And you can familiarize yourself with them. And find out that most of the attacks by crocodiles on people are in Africa, where the evil and terrible Nile crocodile rampages.

But strange as it may seem larger size combed crocodile (it is he who lives in Southeast Asia) is responsible for only 20-30 attacks on humans per year. And this is throughout its entire habitat from India to Australia. Each such attack is recorded. But for some reason, Bangkok residents eaten by crocodiles are not included in these statistics at all.

I note that sometimes crocodiles end up in the Chao Phraya River. This happens when they escape from the farms where they are bred. Such cases are periodically recorded during the rainy season, when crocodile farms are flooded. The flood of 2011 was especially memorable in this regard. 120 saltwater crocodiles have escaped from a farm in Nonthaburi province. Their attacks on children were recorded. The fugitives were caught by the military, professional crocodile hunters and volunteer detachments. The reptiles that escaped were returned to their place.

Let me summarize. Rumors that crocodiles live in the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, eating 20 people a year, are a misconception spread by illiterate guides and authors of Internet sites. However, swimming in this river is not recommended. But not because they live in it scary predators- combed crocodiles. But because the water in it is very polluted.

To a large extent, man is the master of his environment and the likelihood of being attacked, let alone eaten, by a wild animal is a fairly rare event. This is certainly true for developed countries and no more. There are still a few creatures that are dominant even in America, and they are more than capable of eating the average person.

Oddly enough, it seems unfair to meet such large predators in some US states. Florida has all the predators: black bears, cougars, tigers and bull sharks, crocodiles and alligators. Given the proximity large quantity people's attitude towards these animals, it can be said that in general they are simply not really interested in us as a source of food.

It is estimated that there are more than a million alligators in Florida alone. They are found in each of Florida's 67 counties, with fewer in neighboring states. In Florida they say that where there is water, there can be alligators. These could be lakes, rivers, swamps or other bodies of water.

Can crocodiles attack people?

Given the number and proximity of alligators to people, there are bound to be clashes between these species. Generally speaking, alligators are afraid of people because they have been hunted by humans for many centuries to the point where they were almost wiped out. Also, humans aren't really on their menu. Alligators tend to look for simple options, when it comes to food, and will only settle for small animals such as fish, turtles and small animals.

However, alligators are opportunists. If food is close and the alligator is hungry, then it may well decide to attack, even if it is a person.

Of all 23 species of crocodiles and alligators, only 8 are known to attack people unprovoked. Unsurprisingly, the two biggest killers are the saltwater and Nile crocodile, but the American alligator (also known as the Mississippi alligator) is also on the list. While these reptiles kill hundreds of people every year, the number of people killed by alligators each year is estimated at just one.

There are several reasons why an alligator might attack a person. First, alligators will defend their nest if they believe their babies are in danger. There is also the possibility of mistaken identity, as well as the possibility that they may simply view the person as food. This is more likely for larger alligators, but it is also worth considering that an alligator is not likely to attack anything larger than itself.

Facts about alligators

There are actually two living species of alligators: the Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensisAlligator mississippiensis). You can probably figure out where they meet! The American alligator is significantly larger than the Chinese alligator, in many cases up to 10 times larger. This means that the Chinese alligator poses little threat to humans and that is why we will only talk about the American alligator.

The alligator's name is believed to have come from early Spanish explorers of the Americas, who named these huge reptiles "el legarto", meaning "large lizard".

Where do alligators live?

American alligators are found in the southeastern states, primarily in Florida and Louisiana, but they are also found in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas and parts of Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Within their habitat, alligators live almost anywhere there is water, except the sea. This can be in ponds, lakes, swamps, wetlands and rivers. Additionally, they also live in brackish water and can be found in estuaries and mangroves.

What do alligators eat?

In their environment, adult alligators are at the top of the list of predators. Their favorite prey is: turtles, big fish(eg), birds and various mammals that share their habitat, such as muskrat and nutria.

Alligators also hunt from ambush and can sometimes catch some pretty impressive prey. Not only can dogs be caught this way, but also... However, the hunt can go both ways.

How big do alligators get?

On average, alligators weigh about 360 kg (790 lb) and reach a length of 4 m (13 ft). Larger specimens can weigh over 450 kg (1,000 lb) and reach lengths of 4.4 m (14 ft). The largest alligator ever recorded was caught in the 1890s on Marsh Island in Louisiana, reaching 5.85 m (19 ft) in length. There is some doubt about the veracity of this claim and the next largest alligator was discovered in Alabama and reached a whopping 4.6 m (15 ft) in length.

How fast can an alligator move?

There are many myths and some confusion about how fast an alligator can move on land. You may have heard the numbers: over 40 km/h (25 mph), but that's not the whole story and is a bit exaggerated. It's about about the speed of a good sprinter for a short distance at most, but for an alligator the only time they reach that speed is when it makes its first dash of a few feet to catch its prey and take it by surprise. After this, the alligator is unlikely to reach more than 15 km/h (10 mph). Not only is it fairly easy to outrun (even without zig-zagging), but alligators are also known for not pursuing their prey if the initial ambush fails.

Water is theirs natural environment and here you will have no chance of swimming away from it, since they can swim with amazing maximum speed up to 30 km/h (20 mph).

How long do alligators live?

Although it is difficult to calculate the age of an alligator, studies have shown that on average wildlife they live from 30 to 50 years. Alligators in captivity have been known to live for over 80 years, as is the case with the alligator "Muja" at the Belgrade Zoo in Serbia, which has been there since 1937.

Can an alligator kill a person?

Photo. Happy alligator

Well, we think we've already answered that question. Any alligator reaching more than 2 m (6 ft) in length is potential danger for humans, especially in water, where they feel like masters. With an average size of 2.6 m (8.2 ft) for females and 3.4 m (11.2 ft) for males, most alligators pose a danger to humans.

Alligators, as predators, have a whole arsenal of formidable weapons, both offensive and defensive. Firstly, the main weapon used to kill an alligator is its jaws. They are lined with 74 to 80 conical teeth, each measuring up to 2.5 cm (inches) in length. The purpose of these teeth is to grab prey and prevent it from escaping.

The jaws of the American alligator are among the most powerful on the planet. In a study conducted by Dr. Greg Erickson of Florida State University in 2005, he was able to measure the bite force of an American alligator, which was the most powerful bite ever recorded. A 4 m (13 ft) long wild alligator bite produced a force of nearly 3,000 PSI (pounds per square inch), a factor of 3 stronger than the bite hyenas capable of crushing bones. While the record did not break the bite force of 5.5 m (17 ft) saltwater crocodile in 2012, which was 3,700 psi, is still a formidable and powerful bite.

This means that not only is a large alligator capable of crushing skulls and ribcages and biting through limbs, but there is also no escape from it once it has grabbed its prey. All this serves to immobilize the prey, but killing usually occurs by drowning. Like their crocodiles relatives, alligators for large prey will use a "death spin" to gain control of it as well as tear it apart. Alligators and crocodiles do not have cutting teeth and therefore must tear apart any prey that is too large to swallow whole.

This method of attack requires great strength and the alligator has it. The tail is practically made of solid muscle and is where it generates its power.

The alligator can also use these hunting methods when in contact with people. While the majority deadly attacks were in the water, large alligators are also known to hunt on land. It has been established that at a depth of 50 m (170 ft) from the surface of the water, the animal is able to lie down in anticipation, it will be ready to lunge at lightning speed and capture almost everything that is nearby. This type of hunting usually occurs at night, so mistaken identity can lead to an actual attack on a person.

Photo. Alligator scale plates

Thus, the alligator is a finely honed killing machine. However, it would not have survived for about 180 million years unless it was very well protected. Like many others from the order of crocodiles, alligators are well protected, which makes them very difficult to reach even for firearms. The skin itself is very tough, but it is the actual armor on the back where the skin contains bony plates known as osteoderms.

How to survive an alligator attack?

Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Florida where there are many alligators and people. Maybe, the best way Survival means avoiding the attack itself in the first place. Take extra care in areas known to be home to these reptiles, this means avoiding swimming and avoiding the water's edge as alligators are ambush hunters and may lie low waiting for someone to catch you. who will pass by.

The danger zone for an alligator is about half its body length, in front and about 80 or 90 degrees on either side. This is the distance he can hit very quickly. If you are that close to an alligator, back off and run away. The idea of ​​"zig zagging" is a myth, just run in a straight line, straight away from the alligator.

The time of day is also important factor attacks by alligators, they hunt from dusk to dawn.

In the unlikely event that you are attacked, you need to make the alligator's life as difficult as possible. They are after light food they won't want to fight with you. Punch in the face and press in the eyes, this will make the alligator more likely to retreat. He may also try to intercept you for better control of your body and it is at this moment that you may have the opportunity to make your escape.

There are also good statistics: the vast majority of alligator attacks do not result in serious injury and very few are actually fatal.

Statistics on alligator attacks on people

Obviously, the alligator is in a different league among giant crocodiles, but statistics don't tell the whole story. About 60% of Nile crocodile attacks are fatal, but only 5% of alligator attacks result in death. Ten years ago, Florida averaged about 11 alligator attacks on people each year, but that number has been slowly creeping up. Actually for recent years On average, there is one fatal attack per year.

What is the difference between alligators and crocodiles

Some people notice it right away, and some notice it later! Ha ha ha! Bad jokes aside, there are several ways to tell these reptiles apart. First, it's worth asking yourself: "Am I in the southern United States (or on the Yangtze River)?" If the answer is no, then you almost certainly won't encounter an alligator.

Photo. Nile crocodile(Crocodylus niloticus)

Physically, these two crocodile species are very difficult to differentiate from the body below the neck, but there are major differences on the head. The classic way to distinguish them is by their teeth (from the side) when the mouth is closed, if you can see the upper and lower teeth protruding at the same time, then it is probably a crocodile. Alligators have wider upper jaws, thus overlapping and covering the lower teeth.

The shape of the mouth is also often key point. The alligator has a wider, U-shaped mouth compared to the thinner, V-shaped mouth of the crocodile.