Darwin Award Contender

[DrBaltar]

A crocodile killed and ate a 25-year-old man in Bangladesh after he waded into a pond next to a shrine hoping to be blessed by the animal, police say.

Story here (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24219837-2,00.html).

Another glorious day for religion.

[truethat]

I love how the chick is putting her mascara on in the ad next to the story like she's so horribly bored by it all.

[The Shank]

"This is a very unusual incident. Normally, the crocodiles are very friendly and do not harm people.''
Kabir said about 25 people dived into the pond following the attack yesterday, but could not find the man's body.

Now there's a *********** surprise.


It washed ashore today and had been largely eaten, he said.

No ****.

[Mark6]

A crocodile killed and ate a 25-year-old man in Bangladesh after he waded into a pond next to a shrine hoping to be blessed by the animal, police say.

Crocodile -- "Bless that food I am about to receive..."

[LibraryLady]

This is just sad. What a waste.

[RobRoy]

Another glorious day for religion.

Is it common in Bangladesh (or anywhere else) to see such a blessing, or is was this guy just a nutter who pushed his luck until it pushed back? I couldn't quite tell from the story, as it seemed to indicate offerings, rather than actually getting over and playing tag.

[DrBaltar]

Is it common in Bangladesh (or anywhere else) to see such a blessing, or is was this guy just a nutter who pushed his luck until it pushed back?

According to the article referenced:
Kabir said hundreds of people visit the shrine every day to offer hens and goats to the five crocodiles living in the pond. Part of the ritual involves bathing in the water.

I'd say both. It's a common event, and this guy is a nutter for not thinking 'Wait a minute. What am I doing? These animals are carnivores. They eat people... THIS IS STUPID!'

Crocodiles are known to sit there like a log until some idiot, human or otherwise, gets too close. They were probably shocked for a while that the so called animal of intelligence (humans) would come bath near them. Finally one of them thought 'to hell with this. I'm gonna eat one.'

[SezMe]

I don't give this article much credibility:

If a croc killed and ate a human, how could his body wash ashore a few days later?

"Hundreds" of people daily offer various animals to five crocs. I don't believer five crocs could eat that much.

The crocs are normally "friendly" to the visitors? How the hell does a croc act friendly? Well, other than not eating you.

25 people went into the pond after the attack to try to rescue the body? Really? If you witnessed a croc attack would you hop right into the water? No, me neither.

All-in-all, I think it's a croc.

[Frozenwolf150]

This is just sad. What a waste.

Absolutely. The crocodile should have eaten the man whole rather than leaving pieces behind to be washed to shore. Waste not, want not.

[Minarvia]

Absolutely. The crocodile should have eaten the man whole rather than leaving pieces behind to be washed to shore. Waste not, want not.

Maybe the croc decided that he liked chicken better? :D

Really, tho, this is just sad. What a waste of a life.

[triadboy]

"This is a very unusual incident. Normally, the crocodiles are very friendly and do not harm people.''

This is another case of man's fascination with 'animal danger' - getting close to and handling dangerous animals. We are all familiar with the 'snake handlers' of the Appalachian mountains and the 'gorilla rapers' of Kenya - this is just the same thing.

[Civilized Worm]

We are all familiar with the 'snake handlers' of the Appalachian mountains and the 'gorilla rapers' of Kenya - this is just the same thing.


Speak for yourself. They do what to gorillas? :eek:

[Skeptical Greg]

Rappers, gorilla rappers..


It's pretty cool the first time you see it..

[RobRoy]

25 people went into the pond after the attack to try to rescue the body? Really? If you witnessed a croc attack would you hop right into the water? No, me neither.

All-in-all, I think it's a croc.

Good point. There are several aspects of the event that seem less than properly reported.

[Ysidro]

Rappers, gorilla rappers..


It's pretty cool the first time you see it..

So that's why they call each other "G"! :D

[Skeptic Guy]

Absolutely. The crocodile should have eaten the man whole rather than leaving pieces behind to be washed to shore. Waste not, want not.

There are crocs in other countries that go to sleep at night hungry.

[applecorped]

Maybe the croc decided that he liked chicken better? :D

Really, tho, this is just sad. What a waste of a life.

It wasn't a waste of a life. Troothers on the other hand.....

[DrBaltar]

This is another case of man's fascination with 'animal danger' - getting close to and handling dangerous animals. We are all familiar with the 'snake handlers' of the Appalachian mountains and the 'gorilla rapers' of Kenya - this is just the same thing.

That's something different (with the exception of 'gorilla rapers' which I hope I don't understand what you mean). Those people have a respect for the animal and have trained to handle them. These idiots believe that their peaceful god will allow them to peacefully coexist with large strong meat-eaters with lots of teeth just because they have only peaceful and loving intentions towards nature. (Kind of like the clueless Hollywood types who prance around with enemies singing kum-by-ya)

[Madalch]

Perhaps he thought that "Getting Eaten by a Crocodile" was still an Olympic sport. Did he have tomato-flavoured running shoes?

[Brian-M]

Perhaps he thought that "Getting Eaten by a Crocodile" was still an Olympic sport. Did he have tomato-flavoured running shoes?

Maybe the "What's The Harm" site could add a special Monty Python section?

[Kopji]

The pond is a well known historic site, as more like a large enclosed tank rather than a natural feature.

There was an unrelated post from 2004, about eggs at the site being seen but not hatching:
http://lists.gatorhole.com/pipermail/croclist/2004-June/000912.html

Agitation of the animals could combine with simply protecting a nest rather than hunger.

[Skeptical Greg]

Well, yeah... But maybe once the croc got a taste, he just couldn't stop himself ...