Crocodile Attacks In Borneo

Crocodile Attacks In Borneo

Crocodile attacks in Borneo are very rare indeed. However when you are traveling in wilderness destinations you always have to take common sense precautions in order to ensure your safety, as crocodiles are extremely dangerous.

Africa has lions and leopards, the USA and Canada have bears and cougars and Australia has crocodiles: everywhere you go in the world there are animals that are capable of seriously injuring or even killing humans. However this should not stop you from traveling: quite the opposite actually. Seeing these animals in the wild is a remarkable experience, though they should be respected at all times.

People are only attacked by crocodiles and other wild animals when they put themselves in harm's way. Generally that means when they swim or walk in known croc habitat. This is just common sense: you don't swim where there are crocodiles. Unfortunately that means pretty much any river in Borneo!

One famous fatal croc attack in Borneo was in 2005 when British musician Richard Shadwell was killed. At the time he was swimming in a river in Tanjung Puting National Park where saltwater or estuarine crocodiles were known to live. This unfortunate incident could have easily been prevented simply by not entering the water (or hanging around near the edge of it).

Generally crocodiles are able to see you if you are near the water's edge, therefore standing at the edge of a river is not a good idea. They can move extremely fast and will not give you time to escape.

So where to swim? The heat and humidity of Borneo makes swimming extremely tempting but here's a tip - if you can find a stream or very shallow river that is mostly rock, with pockets of water, bathing is probably OK. In fact paddling and splashing around in such a Borneo stream is one of the most enjoyable things things you'll ever do!

Cool gushing water, dappled sunlight, the sounds of the forest - it's awesome. You also know any croc trying to get to you will have to clamber over a lot of rocks, which is something they don't like doing, mostly because they're crap at it. You may be lucky enough to spot a smaller species of croc, which unless you corner or chase the thing is extremely unlikely to attack. They're more likely to run away!

If the water is deep enough to actually go swimming - don't. Crocs can sit submerged for a long time, plus they'll hear you coming and submerge before you get there.

Never Feed Crocodiles
Some people are tempted to feed wild crocodiles however this is a definite no-no. Not even the little ones.
Crocs are wild animals and feeding them not only disrupts their natural patterns but also puts you in danger.

Crocs are also more dangerous at night time so it goes without saying that you should stay right away from water sources after sun set. Don't forget it gets dark early in the tropics! You will be unable to see a croc that is right next to you without sufficient light. The good news is they rely on sunlight for heat and energising their metabolism, so the early hours of the morning are safe..ish.

Boats
The chance of you being attacked while on a boat are very slim indeed. For some reason crocodiles will rarely attack a boat, even the little 'sampans' that have people sitting just inches above the water. However the problem is that tourist boats frequent the same areas and the crocs get used to the boat, plus there's always some idiot trying to throw food to them, perhaps on the previous visit before you got there. As such never lean over the edge and peer directly down at the water. Saltwater crocs can exceed 20 ft and can launch themselves, almost their body length, straight out of the water!

More dangerous than sharks
I'd have to say crocodiles are more dangerous than sharks. They kill more people, they can follow you onto land and they attack with a single-minded aggression. A shark can inflict a terrible bite but often they will bite once as an experiment and then come back later, meaning it is sometimes possible to get into a boat or onto the beach.

Crocs are not like that. If they get a hold of you they won't let go until they're sure you're dead or disabled (such as having ripped off a limb). Also it is possible to punch a shark on their sensitive snout or poke em in the eye, whereas crocodiles are armour-plated monsters. They were considered almost bullet proof by early explorers with black-powder guns. The only way to win a fight with a full size crocodile is by avoiding the fight.

Logs
It's a cliche that a floating log may be a croc but it goes deeper. A croc will often be hiding behind a floating log, so spotting branches and leaves is NOT a reassurance that "it's just a log".

The mating season is when male crocodiles are particularly aggressive, although you will not want to have an encounter at any time. Just keep in mind that they are more territorial during this period and less likely to be tolerant of anyone being anywhere near them.

Borneo is not a place where frequent crocodile attacks take place, unlike in other regions like Australia where they happen often. Use your common sense, always travel with experienced guides and stay out of croc habitat: that is the way to avoid any trouble.