This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
East Timor, a small nation situated between Indonesia and Australia, has been grappling with a rising number of crocodile attacks in recent years. The country's impoverished population of 1.2 million relies heavily on the waterways for their daily needs, making them vulnerable to the ferocious reptiles.
According to conservation biologist Sam Banks, the number of crocodile attacks in East Timor has jumped more than 20-fold over the past two decades. The attacks are often fatal, with an average of one person falling prey to the reptiles every month.
One such victim was a child who was attacked by a group of crocodiles on a beach in East Timor. Mario Da Cruz, a local resident, witnessed the horrific incident and was left shaken. 'I was walking along the beach and suddenly this group of crocodiles came out of the water so I panicked and ran, but one of them bit my leg,' he explained.
East Timor's rate of attacks jumped from fewer than one per year in 1996 to more than a dozen annually in 2014, the most recent data available. This significant increase has made crocodile attacks a fatality risk 10 times greater than malaria, according to Sebastian Brackhane, a scientist who has studied East Timor's crocodile management.
Brackhane and his team have been investigating the possible causes behind the surge in crocodile attacks. They believe that an increase in the number of large saltwater crocodiles is the primary factor. However, some locals believe that foreign creatures, such as those from Australia, are responsible for the attacks.
Conservation efforts in Australia have led to a boost in the country's crocodile population, potentially forcing some to venture further afield in search of food. Scientists are now using DNA testing to determine whether foreign crocodiles are indeed responsible for the attacks in East Timor.
Results from the first round of tests have given no indication that foreign reptiles are present in local waters. However, more testing is required to get a clearer picture and to rule out foreign crocodile attacks.
