Nearly seven months after a near-fatal crocodile attack, 48-year-old Munirpa, from West Sulawesi, Indonesia, bravely revisited the spot where her life changed forever. In August, while disposing of household waste near her home, an unexpected and fierce assault by a crocodile transformed her into one of almost 180 documented victims of such attacks in Indonesia last year.
During the attack, a four-metre-long crocodile bit down on her, leaving only her head untouched. In a desperate struggle, Munirpa fought back, prompting her husband to rush to her aid. He battled the crocodile, managing to pull her from its jaws just in time. Following the ordeal, Munirpa spent a month in hospital, undergoing two surgeries, and still bears visible scars and trauma from the incident. Fear now governs her daily life, leading her to restrict her children’s movements near water bodies.
The locals in the area live with the constant threat of crocodiles, a situation exacerbated by the proliferation of crocodile attacks, numbering 179 last year, according to CrocAttack, an independent database. The increase in such dangerous encounters has been attributed to environmental changes, particularly the spread of palm oil plantations which disrupt the crocodile’s native habitat, forcing the reptiles into closer proximity to human settlements.
Communities along the Budong-Budong River grapple with this evolving relationship with the crocodiles, which, while protected under Indonesian law, pose a significant threat. The perception of safety diminished as residents began discussing their fear of crocodiles regularly. Warning signs have become commonplace, indicating the areas where these ancient predators lurk.
Despite the fear, efforts to coexist with the crocodiles continue, with discussions emerging on the need for government intervention to better manage population levels and enhance community safety. Crocodile handler Rusli Paraili has taken to rescuing and caring for some of these reptiles to prevent further attacks, receiving both community and official support for his initiatives.
The region’s head of the Marine and Fisheries Agency, Suyuti Marzuki, acknowledged the threats posed by shifting crocodile habitats and expressed the need for both ecological protection and aims to explore economic alternatives for residents, possibly through the crocodile skin trade—though this raises concerns regarding conservation and animal welfare.
As Munirpa and others like her await meaningful actions from authorities, a poignant reminder resounds through her words: “It is enough that I’ve been bitten by a crocodile. I won’t let it happen to my children.” The need for effective measures to ensure both public safety and the preservation of crocodile populations becomes increasingly urgent in this delicate balancing act.