.A 4.4-metre crocodile, which was illegally kept as a pet by a Japanese man and then sold to a pearl farm in northern Indonesia, has killed a researcher working there, local media reported.
The victim, Deasy Tuwo, 44, head of the laboratory at the farm in North Sulawesi, on the island of Sulawesi, was last seen feeding the 600kg reptile before her body was discovered by colleagues.
According to reports, the victim’s body was severely damaged, with one hand and most of his abdomen eaten by the crocodile. When colleagues came to feed him, they saw pieces of Deasy’s shirt floating on the water and discovered the body had been mauled by the crocodile.
Immediately after the incident, a large-scale operation involving dozens of people was deployed to tranquilize the crocodile named Merry and transfer it to the Tasik Koki Animal Breeding Center in North Minahasa – a conservation organization.
Colleagues of the victim believe that Ms. Tuwo may have slipped while feeding the crocodiles and was attacked by surprise. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances that may have led to this tragic death.
Deasy Tuwo’s death was reported by many major newspapers such as BBC, The Guardian, Daily Mail… due to its terrible and unusual nature.
- She was described as a gentle person, dedicated to her work, and loved nature and animals, so the incident has caused even more heartache for the community.
