Scientist eaten alive by crocodile at Indonesian laboratory
Woman killed after falling into pool with giant reptile during feeding time
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A scientist has been eaten by a 16-foot crocodile after she reportedly slipped and fell into the giant predator’s enclosure.
Deasy Tuwo, 44, is thought to have died on Friday while attempting to feed the animal at the CV Yosiki Laboratory in the village of Ranowangko on Indonesia’s North Sulawesi Island.
Police said the scientist had fallen into a breeding pool at the site, where the crocodile proceeded to pounce on her. Only half of her remains were recovered.
One of Tuwo’s colleagues, Erling Rumengan, 37, said he had been shocked to discover her body when he arrived at the laboratory on Friday morning.
“We were curious when we looked at the crocodile pool, there was a floating object, it was Deasy's body,” he told the local Tribun Manado newspaper.
“We were afraid to touch it and reported the incident at the police station.”
Another laboratory worker, Nasran, who like many Indonesians goes by a single name, described Tuwo as a “quiet” and “meticulous” person.
He expressed confusion as to how the experienced scientist, who he had often allowed his son to accompany as she fed the crocodiles, had fallen victim to such an accident.
Local media reported the crocodile, which was named Merry, measured more than five metres (16 feet 5 inches) from head to tail and had been a pet of the laboratory’s Japanese owner.
Raswin Sirait, police chief in the nearby city of Tomohon, said the animal had been anaesthetised before being removed from the enclosure.
He added authorities were trying to locate the owner of the crocodile and determine whether he had a licence to keep the giant reptile as a pet.
“We are still looking for the owner of the crocodile,” he told reporters.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments