Fatal crocodile attacks in Indonesia put spotlight on habitat destruction

The recent deaths of two men from crocodile attacks in North Sumatra have put a spotlight on Indonesia’s record as the country with the world’s highest number of such killings annually, raising questions over whether habitat destruction is pushing people and wildlife into increasingly dangerous contact.

Environmental groups said the deaths reflected a wider pattern across the archipelago, where logging, plantations and other land-use changes had destabilised ecosystems.

The first incident was on April 27 in Ture Zoulihe in North Nias Regency, where a crocodile attacked a man who was reportedly fishing with his friends.

An initial search by the Nias Search and Rescue Agency did not find any body. Residents later found a skull in the Batoto River on May 20. Based on dental records, the skull was identified as belonging to the missing man, whom authorities named as Otiaro Gea.

The second incident happened on May 27 in Central Tapanuli Regency, where a crocodile attacked a man identified only as BS by local authorities after he entered the Saga Matua River at night. His body was recovered the next day after family members raised the alarm when he failed to return home.

According to Manduamas Police sub-precinct chief Maruli Tua Simanjorang, several torn wounds were found on the man’s body, believed to be consistent with crocodile bites.