ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – The environment department has ordered the temporary closure of a crocodile enclosure in Zamboanga Sibugay after a man breached it and found himself attacked by a captive saltwater crocodile.
The order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday, April 29, came a day after a 29-year-old man, identified only as Eric, entered the pen in the town of Siay and was attacked by a male crocodile named Alay.
The crocodile held on through several rolls before finally releasing his right leg, as terrified residents looked on. The man suffered serious injuries and is being treated at a hospital in Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur.
Videos of the incident circulated on social media, drawing public attention to the facility and its safety protocols.
The site had warning signs and perimeter fencing, but this incident prompted a review and strengthening of safety measures.
Arturo Fadriquela, executive director of DENR-Zamboanga Peninsula, said the crocodile has since been secured in a restricted section of the enclosure and that additional safety measures are being implemented, including a second perimeter fence, improved warning signs, and round-the-clock personnel deployment.
The crocodile, estimated to be 10 to 12 feet long, has been in captivity since it was a hatchling in the late 1990s. It is registered under a wildlife certificate issued to the Siay municipal government. The animal was previously held in Barangay Balucanan before being moved to a larger enclosure at the Laih wharf in 2022 as part of a local tourism initiative.
A town councilor told Rappler that the man had allegedly tried to obtain one of the crocodile’s teeth as an amulet.
The facility will remain closed until all safety improvements are completed. DENR did not give a specific timeline for its reopening.
Critics said the transfer of the crocodile to a more public area lacked sufficient environmental vetting and oversight. A 2022 assessment by Crocodylus Porosus Philippines Incorporated had evaluated the animal’s condition but was not involved in the facility’s expansion. – Rappler.com