Zoo Worker Killed by Crocodile After Staff Were Filmed ‘Taunting’ Animals

A wildlife park worker has died after a horrifying crocodile attack in Papua New Guinea left him trapped in the animal’s jaws for nearly an hour as coworkers, visitors and police desperately tried to save him.

The attack happened Saturday afternoon at Adventure Park in Port Moresby while the worker was feeding the crocodile.

Witnesses said the animal suddenly clamped down on the handler’s legs, dragged him toward the water and began performing a “death roll,” a violent twisting motion crocodiles use to overpower prey.

Video from the scene reportedly showed another park employee entering the enclosure and repeatedly striking the crocodile on the head in an effort to make it release the man.

A visitor also tried to help by pushing a long pole through the fence, but the crocodile refused to let go.

Koibuga Remdi, who witnessed the attack, said people at the park were horrified but had very few safe options.

“Many of us witnessed the incident, but unfortunately, there was very little we could do to help,” Remdi said. “Our only option was to call the police for assistance.”

As the attack continued, workers began draining water from the pond to make it easier for rescuers to reach the injured handler.

The man reportedly lost a significant amount of blood while the crocodile continued holding him.

Remdi said some employees told him the crocodile had lived at the park since before Papua New Guinea gained independence and had never previously attacked the people who cared for and fed it.

“Sadly, today it unexpectedly turned on its caretaker,” he said.

When police arrived, they opened fire on the crocodile.

According to Remdi, the animal still did not release the worker immediately and had to be shot multiple times.

“It did not die from the first shot,” he said. “Police had to fire multiple rounds, and it was only after the eleventh shot that the crocodile finally died.”

Once the animal was dead, rescuers were able to pull the badly injured worker free.

He was taken to 3 Mile General Hospital with severe injuries but died Sunday morning, according to reports.

Visitor Gibson John said the worker had brought a chicken toward the enclosure shortly before the attack.

“He brought the chicken to the fence and the crocodile attacked the person and tried to bring him into the pool,” John told ABC.

John said the worker appeared to be in terrible pain but could barely speak.

“He was in severe pain but he couldn’t scream,” he said. “He couldn’t speak properly at that time. It was the pain I could see from his eyes.”

John said the only words he could hear the worker say were, “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

The victim’s identity has not been publicly released.

He is believed to have worked at Adventure Park for about two years.

Authorities have not yet explained exactly how the crocodile was able to reach him or what led to the attack.

The fatal incident has also brought new attention to older videos from the wildlife park that appeared to show employees interacting extremely closely with crocodiles.

There is no evidence that the worker killed in Saturday’s attack was one of the employees seen in those earlier videos.

In one clip, a worker appeared to splash water directly toward a crocodile’s face while standing only inches away.

The employee was then seen apparently sitting on the crocodile’s back, pulling at its neck and standing with one foot on the animal during a feeding demonstration.

Another video showed a different worker approaching a massive crocodile from the front and touching it on the nose while standing directly in line with its jaws.

Those videos had already raised concerns about safety practices at the park, though it is unclear whether officials took any action at the time or whether the earlier behavior had any connection to this weekend’s deadly attack.

Crocodiles use death rolls by rapidly twisting their bodies while maintaining a powerful bite, helping them overpower and tear apart prey.

In this case, the worker was reportedly conscious for at least part of the prolonged struggle to free him.

Adventure Park has reportedly closed following the tragedy and is expected to remain shut until further notice.

No reopening date has been announced.