Filipino man mistakes crocodile for fake plastic figure, nearly gets himself kiIIed pic.twitter.com/gFIa2iK8IB
— TaraBull (@TaraBull) April 28, 2025
The male visitor, 29, is said to have mistaken the 15ft reptile for a statue at the zoo in the south of the Philippines.
The tourist was reportedly trapped in the pen in agony for up to 30 minutes before Lalay’s caretaker risked his own life by climbing inside and rescuing him.
The reptile handler was said to have slammed a piece of cement onto Lalay’s head, prompting her to loosen her grip.
Onlooker 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. His leg wasn’t broken, but he suffered arm and thigh wounds.’
The zoo has not made a comment on the incident.