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- 1,500-pound ‘pet’ crocodile mauls woman to death (themirror.com)
A female scientist tragically lost her life after being fatally attacked by a massive crocodile she was caring for at a pearl farm in Indonesia.
The incident occurred in January 2019 on the island of Sulawesi, where Deasy Tuwo, 44, served as the head of the laboratory. The enormous 1,500-pound crocodile, named Merry, was reportedly kept illegally at the facility.
According to reports, Deasy was feeding the 17-foot reptile when she accidentally fell into its enclosure. Colleagues discovered the grim scene the following morning when they arrived at work and noticed a suspicious shape in the water. It was Merry, gripping what remained of Deasy’s body in its jaws.
Witnesses described the crocodile as aggressive, resisting efforts by staff and emergency responders to recover Deasy’s remains. Friends and coworkers recalled her love for animals and expressed shock and confusion over the fatal accident.
A close friend, Erling Rumengan, recounted the moment they spotted Deasy’s body in the water and immediately reported the incident to local authorities. Former colleague Merry Supit noted Deasy was a quiet, dedicated scientist who cared deeply for the animals she worked with.
The crocodile was eventually captured and taken for medical evaluation. Unfortunately, it had severely mutilated Deasy, consuming much of her hands, arms, and abdomen. Authorities feared additional remains might still be inside the animal.
Local conservation officials suggested that Deasy likely fell into the enclosure and noted that Merry had previously exhibited aggressive behavior, including killing another crocodile housed nearby.
The owner of the crocodile was never publicly identified, and the subsequent fate of Merry remains unclear.
Indonesia is home to several crocodile species known for occasional attacks on humans. While crocodile fatalities are relatively rare, these reptiles are responsible for more human deaths annually worldwide than sharks, with an estimated 1,000 fatalities each year. Despite their opportunistic hunting nature, humans are not typical prey for crocodiles.
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- 1,500-pound ‘pet’ crocodile mauls woman to death (themirror.com)