Crocodile attacks leave trauma and even loss of life, mitigation must be the priority
The crocodile attack occurred in Sanggau, West Kalimantan. The victim lost half of his right leg.
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Illustration of a saltwater crocodile.
Natalia (32) escaped from the mouth of the estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). However, this resident of Kelapuk Hamlet, Kampung Baru Village, Toba District, Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan had to let go of losing almost half of his right leg. Not only was he physically injured, he was also seriously traumatized after the unexpected attack on the banks of the Kelapuk River, a tributary of the Kapuas River.
On Thursday (25/4/2024), Natalia lay weak in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Santo Antonius Hospital in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Her gaze was still empty, and her face was pale. An oxygen tube was attached to her nose.
The crocodile attack which occurred the day before left a deep trauma. The marks were faintly visible even though he was covered in a blanket. Not a word came out of his mouth. That afternoon, Limseng (44), Natalia's husband, never left the treatment room.
"This is the first time something like this has happened in our village," said Limseng.
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Limseng (44), husband of Natalia (32), when met at a hospital in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan, Thursday (25/4/2024).
From his wife's account, Limseng said that the incident occurred on Wednesday at 06.00 AM. At that time, Natalia was washing clothes on the riverbank of Sungai Kelapuk.
Lanting is a series of floating wooden structures on a river. Lanting is usually used as a place for residents to wash and bathe on the riverbank. Lanting is found in villages located along the river.
"After finishing rinsing the laundry, the crocodile suddenly grabbed my wife's right leg," said Limseng.
Natalia's body position at the time of the incident was actually on a roof. However, the crocodile grabbed Natalia's leg from the river.
Natalia suddenly screamed. The family and local villagers immediately headed to Lanting.
"There was a tug-of-war with the crocodile," said Limseng, who was not at home at the time of the incident.
Also read: Disturbing, Six Estuary Crocodiles in Agam Regency Caught by Residents
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Children watch estuarine crocodiles (Crocodyllus porosus) right on the edge of the iron barriers at the Blanakan crocodile tourism and breeding farm, Subang Regency, Friday (14/6/2019).
Limseng doesn't remember how long the struggle took place. The important thing is that Natalia was rescued. However, Natalia had to lose half of her right leg taken by the crocodile.
Natalia was then taken to the nearest community health center using a speedboat. It took about 40 minutes from Kelapuk Hamlet. However, due to the condition of her injuries, Natalia was immediately referred to a hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
"I'm also confused by the costs (of treatment) of all kinds," he said.
After the incident, said Limseng, residents in the village were alert. Residents are worried that the 6-7 meter long crocodile will come again.
Limiting activities
Officers from the West Sumatra BKSDA have set up a trap to capture estuarine crocodiles in a puddle of water in Nagari Air Bangis, Sungai Beremas District, West Pasaman, Sumatra, on Thursday (15/10/2020). Four estuarine crocodiles have been appearing in residential areas in the past few weeks, causing concern among some residents.
Nias, the head of Kampung Baru village, emphasized that after the incident, residents were asked to limit their activities in the river. They were asked not to go to the river and to be careful.
For daily needs, residents use water machines to obtain water. There are also ditches in the village that can be used for bathing. Nias is worried that crocodile attacks will happen again.
This concern is not without reason. Even though it's new in Kelapuk, the incident crocodiles attacking humans has occurred in Tanjung Beringin Hamlet. The area is in Kubu Raya Regency, but neighbors Kelapuk. At that time, the victim died.
Even weeks before Natalia was attacked, some crocodiles appeared on the coastal area of the downstream river in Kubu Raya, about 20 kilometers from Kelapuk Village.
Residents saw the crocodile swimming upstream. From residents' reports, there were livestock in coastal areas that were eaten by crocodiles.
Not only in West Kalimantan, crocodiles attacking humans have also occurred in a number of areas in Indonesia.
We must be aware of where there are crocodiles. Humans must first understand that there are crocodiles. This does not mean that humans have to move, but rather reduce activities that may allow humans to come into contact with crocodiles so as not to be attacked.
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Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) have been entangled in motorbike tires for the last 1.5 years in the Palu River, Palu City, Central Sulawesi, as seen on Friday (5/1/2018). There has been no significant intervention from the authorities to save the estuarine crocodile. The saltwater crocodile has protected status because its population is close to being threatened with extinction. The poor environment is one of the threats to the existence of crocodiles that live not far from the estuary.
On Sunday (1/8/2023), a teenager was found dead around the canal area of Kampung Bumi Dipasena Agung, Rawajitu Timur District, Tulang Bawang, Lampung, due to a crocodile attack. A crocodile attack on humans occurred in Southeast Sulawesi on Sunday (12/17/2023).
Deputy Director of the Dayakology Institute, Richardus Giring, stated that they had conducted research on the history and culture around the Kapuas River and its tributaries in 2021-2022. The natural landscape is said to have undergone many changes in function.
According to Giring, the condition is thought to also disrupt the habitat of crocodiles. "Crocodiles may lose their food sources. One of their food sources is usually from animals in the forest that happen to seek water on the riverbank," said Giring.
If animals are no longer present due to the loss of their habitat, even the crocodile will no longer have a source of food. Therefore, crocodiles will seek food sources in other areas, which unfortunately tends to be close to human activities.
Safety fence
The Kendari Search and Rescue team, along with several officials and residents, found a victim of a crocodile attack in a deceased condition in Awonio Village, Kolono, South Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi on Sunday morning (9/2/2020). The intensity of crocodile attacks has been on the rise for the past three months. Strongly suspected to be caused by conflicts over space and the destruction of crocodile habitats in the river, leading to an increase in crocodile attacks on humans.
IPB University Wildlife Ecologist and Herpetologist Mirza Kusrini said that crocodiles are one component of the ecosystem. "When we talk about the food chain, crocodiles are one of the top predators," said Mirza.
If there are crocodiles, we can assume that the food chain there is quite good, if there are fish as one of their foods. Crocodile's diet usually consists of not only fish, but also water snakes and monitor lizards that exist in natural conditions.
"However, crocodiles are also opportunists. When there is a chance, even swimming cows become their prey. But, I don't know how their population is in the location where they attack humans. How is the fish population there, whether it is decreasing or not," he added.
Conflict with crocodiles may occur in habitats where crocodiles are present, especially when human activities intersect with areas where crocodiles are active. If this happens, there is a high likelihood that humans will be seen as prey by crocodiles.
Also read: Crocodiles
Residents are searching for Riswan (14) who was attacked by a crocodile in the Poleang River, Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi on Thursday (23/4/2020). Conflict between humans and crocodiles continues to occur in Southeast Sulawesi over the last year. The pressure for development has disturbed the ecosystem and the small communities have become victims.
Mirza has conducted several studies on human-crocodile conflicts in Sulawesi and Kalimantan. Large points of conflict occur where there are crocodiles and human activities in the same location.
"We must be aware of where the crocodiles are. Humans need to understand that there are crocodiles. This does not mean that humans have to move, but rather reduce activities that may bring humans in contact with crocodiles to avoid being attacked," he said.
In addition, technical measures can also be taken. In India, for example, villages on the banks of rivers build fences in the water. The fence is covered with nets all the way down so that crocodiles cannot enter.
It is difficult to blame the instincts of wild animals when incidents of crocodile attacks on humans occur. Mitigation efforts carried out by humans in areas prone to such incidents must be the key to avoiding a repeat of such events.
