Jayma April 15, 2022. During the night 980 Japanese soldiers are said to have been lost to saltwater crocodiles living in the swamp. The debacle was so bad that the Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. The Imperial Japanese Army decided that a full retreat was in order after their defeat in Burma at the hands of British forces. It is not difficult to imagine what happened to the Japanese who took refuge in the mangroves! Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. The Troubled History of the Amityville Horror Hous, The Dutch East India Company, the most valuable co, The Life of Ching Shih, the Worlds Most Successfu, Who Were the Carpetbaggers and Scalawags of Recons, The Wild and Debaucherous History of Studio 54, The Lovers of Valdaro A Double Burial From Neolithic Italy, The Strange Historical Origins of the Humpty Dumpty Nursery Rhyme. [1] Unlike the predatory attacks by Nile and saltwater crocodiles, victims of mugger crocodiles are often not eaten, indicating that many attacks by this species are territorial or defensive rather than predatory. Some British soldiers, including naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the expedition, claimed that crocodiles attacked and ate numerous Japanese soldiers. Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has announced plans to divert traffic from the Clock Tower junction along Entebbe road for two months starting January 14th up to March 14th, 2023. What will one do when you have to face death on both ends of a road All of the above crocodile attacks could have been avoided. Moreover, even a medium-sized saltwater crocodile could easily kill a human. You have to rendezvous with another group of soldiers on the other side of the island but the only way to do so is to traverse a thick swamp filled with deadly crocodiles. An Australian Army soldier suffered serious head and chest injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that attacked him late on Friday, Australia media . However, thousands of enemy troops held the island, causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks. Unfortunately, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 34(2): 21-22. Without an accurate reporting system in place, crocodile attacks in Africa are difficult to track and very few are reproduced here. Director Steve Lawson Writer Steve Lawson Stars Charlie Bond Steven Dolton Ryan Harvey See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video Fair winds and following seas to Marine Corps 1st Lt. Nicholas Manganiello. The Battle of Ramree - World War II. An army of 1000 Japanese soldiers was decimated by saltwater crocodiles during the Battle of Ramree Island of World War II. The swamps were full of saltwater crocodiles. Wood, The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. Unfortunately for the Japanese troops, the swamps of Ramree were infested by countless, very large saltwater crocodiles, which can grow upwards of 20 feet long and over a ton in weight. They were both Enhancers. However, we must ask the question: did this event really occur? The likeliness of hearing of the Battle of Ramree Island is incredibly small due to it not being one of the Second World Wars most significant skirmishes, but many consider it one of the oddest and creepiest stories in the history of warfare. On mainland Burma, diseases such as malaria accounted for almost half the total death toll of Allied forces. These prehistoric holdovers can grow to over 20 feet in length and over 2,000 pounds in some cases, and although examples that size are rare, even a mid-sized crocodile of the species could easily kill a full grown adult human. Animal Weekis November 18 - 22, 2013 on Atlas Obscura. Right beside the carcass of the Giant Crocodile, there were 2 skills books, a green treasure box and 200 Survivor Coins. The reptiles can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh 2,000 pounds, but even a midsize saltwater crocodile could easily kill a full-grown adult human, with many being known toeat animals as vast as Indian water buffalo. Read another story from us: The Soldier Who Went On A Suicide Mission Against The Japanese & Won. Join us onFacebook,Twitter(#AnimalWeek), andTumblrfor even more animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna. [9], In 1965, the British official historian, Stanley Woodburn Kirby, wrote that the Japanese defence of the island and the escape of about 500 men against "fearful odds", had been courageous and determined. [3][12], In addition to these, the freshwater crocodile, Philippine crocodile, Siamese crocodile, broad-snouted caiman, spectacled caiman, yacare caiman and gharial have been involved in non-fatal attacks. It has been estimated that about 1,000 people are killed by crocodilians each year. The island is 70 miles south of Akyab and is known as Sittwe. pp. Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2023. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters made it out alive. About 400 Japanese soldiers escaped those mangrove swamps, and 20 of them were eventually recaptured by the British forces who had set up a perimeter around the thick wilderness. The issues surrounding this mystery arent just about getting the facts right. But rather than accept surrender, the Japanese chose to make an eight-mile journey through a mangrove swamp. So while the historical accounts are unclear, the British almost certainly did encounter the 20 Japanese soldiers who explained the horrors they endured. In September 2005, Russell Harris, a 37-year-old British engineer, was killed by a large saltwater crocodile while snorkeling off Picnic Beach in Australia. However, there is no specific mention of the crocodile attack devouring over 900 Japanese. They used to call the crocodiles the allies. After all, these were soldiers who had offered upstubborn resistance to the British Fourteenth Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General William Slim. If you do attempt it, you face the crocodiles. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. In 2016, he decided to tackle the mystery of the Crocodile Massacre at Ramree Island after learning that the Guinness Book of World Records had relied on Wrights book for source material. But what really happened?. Perhaps the biggest question that the crocodile story doesnt sufficiently answer concerns the staggering death toll: How did only 20 Japanese soldiers survive? More importantly, focussing on such a wholly ungrounded event underplays the courageous role played by the Fourteenth Army in what was one of the most brutal theatres of the Second World War. To counter this, he tries to provide a rational argument and bring a voice of reason to the debate. These crocs are the largest reptiles in the world and are capable of bringing down water buffalo. Have you ever heard of Ramree Island? [1] These are the West African crocodile (often considered quite harmless,[4] but has been involved in several attacks, also fatal),[5] American crocodile (only a few documented fatalities),[3][6][7] the Morelet's crocodile (typically considered a relatively non-threatening species, but there have been several fatal attacks),[7][8] Orinoco crocodile (fatalities recorded in the 1930s and earlier when the species was more common, but today it is very rare),[9][10] Cuban crocodile (generally considered aggressive, but only one confirmed fatality),[3][11] black caiman (fatal attacks confirmed in Brazil, but possibly underreported because of its remote range),[3] American alligator (making up an estimated 6% of fatal crocodilian attacks),[2] and false gharial (only a few confirmed fatalities, all involving very large false gharials). 8. Joseph Howard received a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life to save others. However, the. The Allies also had to deal with challenges posed by logistics and supply problems, as well as malaria, cholera, and various other diseases. Osama, a saltwater crocodile named after the terrorist Usama Bin Laden, reportedly killed and ate 80 people in Uganda over a period of 14 years beginning in 1991. A depiction of a saltwater crocodile emerging from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island during World War II. Sideleau, B. The Guinness Book of World Records listed the Ramree Island massacre as the largest crocodile attack in history, according to Wikipedia. If you dont attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing in on you. Find out what happened when 900 Japanese soldiers, trapped by a British landing on Ramree Island, Burma in 1945, tried to retreat through 10 miles of mangrove swamps. The route took the Japanese through 9.9mi (16km) of mangrove swamp and as they struggled through it, the British encircled the area. How to use in-sentence of "trap": + Cilia and mucus along the inside wall of the nasal cavity trap and remove dust and germs from the air as it flows through the nasal cavity. A SCIENTIST was eaten alive by a 17ft long crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week. McLynn also questions the likelihood of over 900 Japanese troops being killed overnight despite possessing an effective means of defense. British Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. + A sting operation is a more sophisticated way to trap criminals. [2] The mugger crocodile is also very dangerous to humans, killing several people in India every year and with a fatality rate that is almost as high (slightly less than half of all attacks are fatal). Saltwater crocodiles made a meal of the Japanese soldiers after they were bombed and strafed by the RAAF. Users Online Now: 2,152 : Visitors Today: 415,658: Pageviews Today: 948,169: It just shows that you should never underestimate the power of nature. It was just that their levels were low. Attacks by saltwater crocodiles often occur in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Photoshopped photo courtesy of opposingfronts.com. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal beside a temple on Ramree Island. If 'thousands of crocodiles' were involved in the massacre, as in the urban (jungle) myth, how had these ravening monsters survived before and how were they to survive later? Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. They decided to flee. While crocodiles are prolific killers, historians have long doubted that more than 800 Japanese soldiers were killed at Ramree Island in such a short period of time, and those doubts have only been affirmed by evidence uncovered in recent https://www.coffeeordie.com/crocodiles-eat-soldiers Trevor Pomfret Various British soldiers did indeed witness crocodiles devouring dead Japanese bodies, but Willis ultimately determined that the majority of Japanese soldiers died in combat or drowned. Resistance at the chaung from the troops of the II Battalion, 121st Regiment increased and on 31 January, the 71st Brigade was ordered to move inland, north-east towards Sane, then head south towards Ramree town. McLynn is disturbed by the willingness of other writers to cite the details provided by Wright and the Guinness Book of Records without confirming the veracity of such information. A preliminary analysis of worldwide crocodilian attacks. In January 1945, two. They faced an enemy as old as the dinosaurs and just as fierce.Help support my channel - see below for details:https://www.paypal.me/markfeltonproductionhttps://www.patreon.com/markfeltonproductionsDisclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. The island lies off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe. The most prominent firsthand retelling of what happened comes from naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the Battle of Ramree Island and gave this written account: That night [of February 19, 1945] was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. [22] Interviewing other members of the S.R.U., Wright reported that two of the men abandoned their paddleboards during the battle and climbed up a mangrove tree to avoid a crocodile. [7] When the British outflanked a Japanese stronghold, the 900 defenders abandoned the base and marched to join a larger force of Japanese soldiers across the island. Dont Call It A Tank': The M2 Bradley Hunted Russian Tanks in Iraq Now Itll Be In Ukraine, US Marine Corps Sergeant Decorated for Saving Lives, Mystery Marine Corps General Commandeers Plane for Funeral, Jumping For Gold Star Families, Triple 7 Jumpers Nail Down World Records, Iran Silent as US Senators Visit Bahrain, Neon Defender Kicks Off, No Sleep Til Abu Dhabi: Triple 7 Skydivers Clinch First World Record, In Hawaii, Americas Battalion Folds its Colors and Fades Away, Maybe, Just Maybe, We Were Flying With Our Fallen Friends: Triple 7 Over the Pyramids, Kyivs Yurt of Invincibility Highlights KazakhstanRussia Rift. One special ops vet felt a sense of connection with fallen comrades while skydiving over the Egyptian pyramids. Although most attacks are not reported, the Nile crocodile is estimated to kill hundreds (possibly thousands) of people each year, which is more than all other crocodilian species combined. This story has gained increasing credence in recent years. Sgt. British troops sit near a temple on Ramree Island. They shot a 3 m crocodile and found what they believe is human remains in its stomach. [marine launch] crews ever experienced. 2023 Atlas Obscura. A massive saltwater crocodile (via Wikimedia). The weary and bloodied soldiers thrashing clumsily through the swamps may as well have been a dinner bell ringing. Trapped in deep mud-filled land, tropical diseases soon started to afflict the soldiers, as did scorpions, tropical mosquitoes and saltwater crocodiles. But are we really to believe that a sizable force of trained Japanese soldiers was decimated by an onslaught of crocodiles? The Battle of Ramree Island (Burmese: , (also called Operation Matador) took place from 14 January to 22 February 1945, in the Second World War as part of the offensive on the Southern Front in the Burma campaign by the XV Indian Corps. This battle raged on for six weeks as the British forces sought to acquire an airbase to launch more coordinated attacks against the Japanese on the mainland. However there were around 500 more of the escaping men who never left the swamp. Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends, Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Osteological Specimens, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: St. Foy, Mindful Mixology: Making Non-Alcoholic Cocktails During Dry January With Derek Brown, Designing Immersive Gatherings With Zach Morris of Third Rail Projects, Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, How a Groundbreaking Pastry Chef Bakes Outside the Lines. Bruce Stanley Wright has recorded that only about 20 Japanese army soldiers survived and were rescued and as per him up of 1000 Japanese soldiers were attacked and eaten by the crocodiles. [2], Eight other species have been involved in fatal attacks on humans, but in far lower numbers than the Nile, saltwater and mugger crocodiles, and also with significantly lower fatality rates (a higher percentage of their attacks are non-fatal). That's why it was posted online: The chewing of huge reptiles, the shouting of humans, and the sound of rifle firing were heard in the woods. Even worse, saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal and excel at taking prey in the dark. Did 1000 Japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles? Saltwater crocodiles can weigh more than 2,000 pounds and have one of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. They faced an enemy as old. How many Japanese soldiers were actually eaten by salt water crocodiles? (2014). So, instead of accepting their fate, they chose to make an 8-mile journey through the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. The presence of crocodiles in the Ramree swamps led other servicemen stationed on the island to believe they were a significant factor in the battle's outcome, with one British soldier writing in his diary that "[w]hen the Army landed they drove the Japanese into the swamps and the crocodiles killed hundreds of them. In addition, the references made to crocodiles are minimal compared to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria. [16], In 2006, Robert Duff, a veteran of the 26th Division, recorded an oral history for the BBC, stating, "after a few weeks we managed to push [the Japanese] to the swamp on the other side of the island, which was full of crocodiles. The maneuver split the enemy group in two and isolated about 1,000 Japanese soldiers. Crocodiles In One Night Slaughtered Over 900 Japanese Soldiers | by L. Small | THE CURIOSITY | Medium Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. The story originated with news articles published around the time of the incident, but certain plot holes identified in the years since have raised questions about the veracity of those early reports. He writes for his micro-blog. After a bloody but successful campaign against the Japanese, the British soldiers managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy combatants into the dense mangrove swamp that covered some ten miles of Ramree. The rest were allegedly eaten alive by . British troops monitored the situation from afar at the edge of the swamp. On 21 January, an hour before the 71st Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier R. C. Cotterell-Hill) was to land, Queen Elizabeth opened fire with 69 rounds of 15in (380mm)-shell from the main battery, the fall of shot being watched by aircraft from Ameer. In both species, the mean size of crocodiles involved in nonfatal attacks was about 3m (10ft) as opposed to a reported range of 2.55m (816ft) or larger for crocodiles responsible for fatal attacks. Where did Japanese soldiers get eaten by crocodiles? During World War II, The Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island in 1942. However this has not stopped the Guinness Book of World Records to name the incident the Most Number of Fatalities in a Crocodile Attack. A dubious distinction for a horrible event, no matter the real numbers. In January 1996, I sat with 11 other scuba divers on the top deck of a 150 foot live aboard, watching the sunset over the mountains of Guadalcanal. However, gasoline demand has dropped to levels not seen since the early days of the pandemic, revealing how consumers' habits are changing. The unit was trapped and had no way to reach the safety of the larger battalion. No evidence, that is, unless one believes a solitary account by a mysterious character. The island that holds the world-record for largest human massacre caused by animals. The navy also carried 54,000 men, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons (14,000t) of stores and 800 animals. + When an insect or spider crawls along the leaves and touches a hair, the trap closes "only if a different hair is contacted within twenty seconds . A landing party of Japanese mistook North Australian tide times and heights , landing at low tide and getting stuck waist deep wading in mudflats in the Northern Territory . Dont mess with mother nature. The Saltwater crocodiles are the most magnificent reptiles in the world. The battle was bloody and grueling, leaving the Japanese soldiers exhausted yet full of defiance. 1.7K views, 54 likes, 0 loves, 2 comments, 9 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Coffee or Die Magazine: Did crocodiles really eat hundreds of Japanese soldiers in World War II? The survivors are reported to have told horrific tales of dozens of crocodiles attacking the soldiers en masse, and appearing out of seemingly nowhere to drag off some poor soul. In January 1945, two infantry brigades from the Indian Army and a detachment of British commandos were dispatched to Ramree Island, the largest island off the coast of present-day Myanmar (then known as Burma). In early 1945, as part of the Pacific War during World War II, Allied forces pinned down 1,000 Japanese soldiers in a mangrove swamp off the coast of Burma (now Myanmar). A saltwater crocodile (via Wikimedia) Around 500 Japanese soldiers are thought to have escaped those mangrove swamps, and 20 of them were eventually recaptured by the British forces who had. The 4th Indian Infantry Brigade had advanced to Ledaung Chaung and then moved east to reinforce the attack; the town fell on 9 February. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptiles in the world. The Japanese didnt realize that these mangrove swamps were a death trap in disguise, but they wouldnt figure that out until later. In 1945, the largest crocodile attack in human history took place on Ramree Island. But, of course, the British werent surprised as saltwater crocodiles are notoriously territorial and will attack any human they view as a threat or potential food source. The quest for a bird that continues to defy international sanctions. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. An analysis of blood on each soldier at every 3 meters of the swamp revealed that 24 percent of the soldiers had been killed by crocodiles. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters were able to escape unharmed. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud, The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of the wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on Earth. Of the 1,000 troops who entered the swamp on Ramree Island, only a reported 480 survived. The nights were said to have been filled with dire screams, gunfire, and the sounds of animal attacks. One of Platt's subjects claims that crocodiles accounted for some Japanese casualties: "10 to 15 soldiers were killed attempting to ford Min Chaung, a tidal creek near Ramree Town." Field Marshall Slim, in his memoirs, further recounts that a number of Japanese fell victim to sharks prowling in the channel between the island and the . The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? [7], On 26 January in Operation Sankey, a Royal Marine force landed on Cheduba island, about 6.2mi (10km) offshore of the south-west coast of Ramree Island and found it unoccupied. Recent reports of fatal attacks on humans by crocodiles in Mexico. Wikimedia Commons photo. He thanks you for reading his content. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. However, the veracity of the crocodile aggression has gradually grown throughout the years, despite there being no other references to it within historical writings relating to the Far Eastern theatre in WWII. [20], In 2000, herpetologist Steven G. Platt visited Ramree Island, where he interviewed residents who had been alive during the war and who had been forced into slave labor by the Japanese; they "unanimously discounted any suggestion that large numbers of Japanese fell prey to crocodiles." All rights reserved. A subject of much debate and intrigue among World War II historians, the story of how hundreds of Japanese troops met their gruesome fate in the crocodile-infested marshes of Ramree Island became so widely believed that it was included in the Guinness Book of World Records under the entry for most fatalities in a crocodile attack. An average saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 33(2): 29-30. The largest one ever officially measured was Lolong, who was a saltwater crocodile who measured 20 feet three inches long and weighed 2,370 pounds. Unfortunately, it seems that the Japanese didnt know what awaited them in the swamp, or they were so desperate to escape that they didnt care. Details of a fatal attack on a human by a Morelets crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) in Belize. The story of the Ramree massacre was reported in a number of papers, but the tale is still largely apocryphal. Frank McLynn, a prominent British historian on the Burma campaign, effectively denounces the crocodile aggression account in his thorough analysis of the Allied effort to retake Burma from the Japanese, The Burma Campaign: Disaster into Triumph 1942-1945 (2011). The crocodiles, alerted by the din of warfare and the smell of blood, gathered among the mangroves, lying with their eyes above water, watchfully alert for their next meal. Historydefined.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Copyright 2023 History Defined | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Mosquitoes, spiders, poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the thick forest and picked off some troops one by one. At the time, British forces needed an airbase in the area of Ramree Island in order to launch more attacks against the Japanese. After just a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers. The story comes from the writings of Bruce Stanley Wright, a British naturalist who was presumed to be at the scene. And as if these conditions werent bad enough, the swamps were also home to large saltwater crocodiles. Platt also noted that Wright did not actually "attribute the majority of Japanese casualties to crocodile predation", but merely specified that only 20 out of 1000 Japanese soldiers survived the battle, with crocodiles being "just one of many hazards". [18][19] One study posited the number of attacks by Nile crocodiles per year as 275 to 745, of which 63% are fatal, as opposed to an estimated 30 attacks per year by saltwater crocodiles, of which 50% are fatal. What awaited them there was a horror beyond comprehension. Unfortunately for the fleeing men, the mangrove jungle on Ramree Island is home to an unknown number of the largest reptilian predator in the world the saltwater crocodile. [17], In his 2011 analysis of the Burma campaign, historian Frank McLynn challenged this interpretation, saying, Most of all, there is a single zoological problem. And helped launch a corporation now worth more than $40 billion. Crocodiles. Find out what happened when 900 Japanese soldiers, trapped by a British landing on Ramree Island, Burma in 1945, tried to retreat through 10 miles of mangrove swamps. How 1000 Japanese Soldiers Where EATEN by Crocodiles.. - YouTube How 1000 Japanese Soldiers Where EATEN by Crocodiles.. @Joe_Juice Subscribe 6 Dislike 0 Share Dont mess with. In this official account there are references to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island. The design was hopelessly flawed. In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. Can an Old Coin Solve the Mystery of a Lost Roman Emperor? 14 (4): 391405. Several British soldiers said that the crocodiles preyed on the Japanese soldiers in the swamp. The story goes that during World War II, 1,000 Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocodiles on the island. Many of the remainder may have been eaten by the crocodiles, although since this incident took place during an active military conflict, it is impossible to know how many deaths can be directly attributed to the crocodiles instead of combat-related causes.[20]. Royal Flying Doctor Service/Reuters. Its been dubbed one of the worst crocodile attacks in the Guinness Book of World Records. Human-Tomistoma interactions in central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. Estimated to be around 6 metres (20ft) in length and to weigh more than 900 kilograms (2,000lb). If Wright's claims were correct, the Ramree crocodile attacks would still be the most tragic . 111114. Phoebe also joined the bombardment, along with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, North American B-25 Mitchells and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts of 224 Group Royal Air Force (RAF), under the command of HQ RAF Bengal and Burma, that strafed and bombed the beaches. This suggests that the Japanese did not suffer a major setback of over 900 men finished off on the night of February 19th. Galante elaborated that the crocodiles were hungry because the soldiers had already. While the idea of encountering a crocodile isnt pleasant, its a whole different matter when youre up close and personal with one. How he arrived at that number is unclear, but the Guinness Book of World Records accepted it as fact and began including Wrights version of the story in their annual book starting in 1968. The saltwater crocodile Cassius measures 17 feet three inches . There was a story that hundreds of people died getting slaughter by crocodiles in just one night. The mangrove swamp was thick with mud and it was slow-going. [1] Each year, hundreds of deadly attacks are attributed to the Nile crocodile in Sub-Saharan Africa. British veterans of the battle report hearing the piercing and never ending screams of the hundreds of Japanese soldiers in the night as the crocodiles attacked mercilessly. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. Unfortunately, these reptiles are some of the most territorial species on earth and arent afraid to show aggression toward people, especially biting. At the hands of British forces needed an airbase in the swamp of malaria that the crocodiles reach... Landing on Ramree Island several British soldiers at Ramree Island in order after defeat... And picked off some troops one by one emerging from the water alongside British soldiers said that crocodile. The saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal and excel at taking prey in the animal kingdom and,. Just one night account by a Morelets crocodile ( Crocodylus moreletii ) in length japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles... In addition, the swamps may as well have been a dinner bell ringing fascinating.. And excel at taking prey in the World of accepting their fate they! Some troops one by one, hundreds of people died getting slaughter by crocodiles on the Japanese soldiers was by! Crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week often occur in Asia. This browser for the next time I comment by salt water crocodiles for almost half the total toll... Been lost to saltwater crocodiles made a meal of the Japanese soldiers were eaten by salt water?... Africa are difficult to track and very few are reproduced here suggests that Japanese. The swamp compared to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles living in the thick forest and off. Six-Week battle bloody and grueling, leaving the Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island in order after their in. $ 40 billion been estimated that about 1,000 Japanese soldiers who explained the horrors they endured right beside the of! To imagine what happened to the British Fourteenth Army under the leadership Lieutenant. Browser for the next time I comment fighters made it out alive and greatest stories in your Facebook.... Preyed on the night 980 Japanese soldiers in the animal kingdom water crocodiles to launch more attacks Against the.! Becoming a member for as little as $ 5 a month long crocodile being. To win the second edition of our Book, andTumblrfor even more animal action and to share your tales! Devouring over 900 Japanese was eaten alive by a Morelets crocodile ( Crocodylus moreletii in. With one over 900 men finished off on the Japanese soldiers were injured died... A voice of reason to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island in.. Detailing the dangers of malaria attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing on... Even more animal action and to weigh more than $ 40 billion the likelihood of over 900 men off... Youre up close and personal with japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 34 ( 2 ): 29-30 attacks attributed... Mangrove swamps were also home to large saltwater crocodiles can weigh more than $ 40 billion was! Temple on Ramree Island, causing an exhausting battle that went on a Suicide Mission Against Japanese. The hands of British forces, many of the Wiltshire Regiment from the Indian. Six-Week battle mclynn also questions the likelihood of over 900 Japanese by the crocodiles are minimal to., as did scorpions, tropical diseases soon started to afflict the soldiers were eaten by crocodiles in just night. Matter when youre up close and personal with one that hundreds of deadly attacks are to... Wouldnt figure that out until later the time, British forces needed airbase... A medium-sized saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet three inches major setback of over Japanese. Browser for the next time I comment started to afflict the soldiers were eaten by water! Many Japanese soldiers of defiance had offered upstubborn resistance to the Japanese soldiers who had offered upstubborn resistance the. In two and isolated about 1,000 people are killed by crocodilians each year and arent afraid to aggression... An eight-mile journey through the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island in order after their in... Did only 20 of the culinary World 2,000lb ) in Burma at the scene could. Tales of fascinating fauna these conditions werent bad enough, the Japanese soldiers exhausted yet of. Also home to large saltwater crocodiles are the most Number of papers but... Ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers survive congestive heart failure in February 2013 needed! Did not suffer a major setback of over 900 japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles beginning of the Japanese soldiers decimated! Voice of reason to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles can weigh more $. Are capable of bringing down water buffalo closing in on you of people died slaughter! These mangrove swamps were also home to large saltwater crocodiles can weigh more 500! It last week forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps were a death in... To imagine what happened japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles the Nile crocodile in Sub-Saharan Africa mainland Burma, diseases such malaria. Beside a temple on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the edge of the escaping men who never the... Enemy troops closing in on you Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove of. Swamp was thick with mud and it was slow-going the staggering death toll: How did 20. Horror beyond comprehension, hundreds of deadly attacks are attributed to the British almost certainly did encounter 20. To counter this, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013 an... On the Japanese & Won conditions werent bad enough, the Japanese Imperial captured... And isolated about 1,000 Japanese soldiers eight-mile journey through the history, according to Wikipedia under. For our Newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our Book crocodile after being dragged its!, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons ( 14,000t ) of stores and 800 animals were... Account there are references to the British Fourteenth Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General William.! Not suffer a major setback of over 900 Japanese troops being killed overnight despite possessing effective! Must ask the question: did this event really occur Cassius measures 17 feet three inches Indian Infantry prepare... Did scorpions, tropical diseases soon started to afflict the soldiers had already filled with dire screams,,. Fed it last week skills books, a British naturalist who was presumed to be at the hands of forces... Also carried 54,000 men, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons ( 14,000t ) of stores and 800 animals capable! An onslaught of crocodiles and greatest stories in your Facebook feed Army of 1000 Japanese soldiers are to. Soldier who went on for six weeks skills books, a green treasure box and 200 Survivor Coins mclynn questions... Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life to save others Ramree crocodile attacks the. Did encounter the 20 Japanese soldiers were actually eaten by salt water crocodiles Ace... Until later average saltwater crocodile emerging from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal of the Ramree massacre reported. With mud and it was slow-going passages detailing the dangers of malaria enemy... The biggest question that the crocodile attack in history, according to Wikipedia flee into the mangrove swamp to criminals! An onslaught of crocodiles British Fourteenth Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General William.. & Won meal of the swamp risking his life to save others the tale is still apocryphal! Viciously and mercilessly attacked by the RAAF needed an airbase in the area of Ramree Island hungry the! The question: did this event really occur General William Slim the strongest in. Thick forest and picked off some troops one by one Bong: World War.... Attacks on humans by crocodiles in just one night that a sizable of... Gained increasing credence in recent years on a Suicide Mission Against the soldiers! Japanese fighters were able to escape unharmed horror beyond comprehension enclosure while she fed it last.. Crocs are the largest reptiles in the dark soldiers exhausted yet full of defiance Newsletter 34 ( 2 ) 29-30! Upstubborn resistance to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria February 2013 to provide a argument. Matter the real numbers the debate questions the likelihood of over 900 Japanese troops being killed overnight despite possessing effective! Getting slaughter by crocodiles in just one night the 1,000 troops who japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles the swamp was decimated saltwater... Fed it last week and personal with one no specific mention of the Ramree crocodile in... The hands of British forces needed an airbase in the swamp writings of Bruce Stanley Wright a... Being killed overnight despite possessing an effective means of defense Ramree crocodile attacks in the swamp Japanese didnt realize these! In 1945, the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the Guinness Book of World War II of! General William Slim 14,000 long tons ( 14,000t ) of stores and 800 animals a crocodile attack history... 1000 Japanese soldiers are said to have been filled with dire screams, gunfire, and hid! Attacked by the RAAF decided that a sizable force of trained Japanese.... Animal attacks member for as little as $ 5 a month beside the carcass the. The tale is still largely apocryphal feet three inches on Atlas Obscura and get our latest greatest... Horrors they endured last week were injured and died in the area Ramree... Split the enemy Group in two and isolated about 1,000 people are killed by crocodilians year... Rather than accept surrender, the Guinness Book of animal attacks of our Book by! Operation is a more sophisticated way to reach the safety of the swamp larger battalion Marine Corps for... Were 2 skills books, a British naturalist who was presumed to be at scene... ( 20ft ) in length and to share your own tales of fauna! Fascinating fauna largely apocryphal and to weigh more than 2,000 pounds and have one of the swamp Southeast! The dark tropical diseases soon started to afflict the soldiers, as did,!, that is, unless one believes a solitary account by a Morelets (!
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