japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles

As the Indian and British troops closed in, the Japanese soldiers were faced with two options: They could stay and fight or attempt to flee through the marshes and escape by sea. [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). Upon entering Ramree Island in the Bay of Bengal in early 1945, Japanese troops encountered a very uncertain situation. However, there is no specific mention of the crocodile attack devouring over 900 Japanese. Several British soldiers said that the crocodiles preyed on the Japanese soldiers in the swamp. It just shows that you should never underestimate the power of nature. Recent reports of fatal attacks on humans by crocodiles in Mexico. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.Of about one thousand Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about twenty were found alive." The Weapons The Japanese Type 26 revolver was a beautifully executed piece of tactical trash. The Imperial Japanese Army decided that a full retreat was in order after their defeat in Burma at the hands of British forces. But rather than accept surrender, the Japanese chose to make an eight-mile journey through a mangrove swamp. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 33(2): 29-30. Fair winds and following seas to Marine Corps 1st Lt. Nicholas Manganiello. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Unfortunately, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013. Unfortunately, these reptiles are some of the most territorial species on earth and arent afraid to show aggression toward people, especially biting. They used to call the crocodiles the allies. Her boyfriend caught the attack on film; the camera was recovered two days later along with her remains. Read another story from us: The Soldier Who Went On A Suicide Mission Against The Japanese & Won. In addition, saltwater crocodiles are far from a misunderstood monster. After a bloody campaign, British troops managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy combatants off the island into the dense mangrove swamp that covered some 10 miles of Ramree. As you can imagine, what followed was one of the most gruesome and brutal crocodile attacks in history. During World War II, The Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island in 1942. If you dont attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing in on you. "[12] In his 1962 collection Wildlife Sketches Near and Far, Canadian naturalist and veteran of the Burma campaign Bruce S. Wright described the events of the battle, focusing on predation of the Japanese soldiers by the saltwater crocodiles. 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 Ramree Island crocodile attack in January 1945, the deadliest attack of its kind recorded thus far, came just as World War II ended. On all fronts, they were attacked by the Allied forces in full strength, leaving them to either surrender or Since Ramree was strategically important, the Allies launched an attack in 1945 to retake the island and establish airbases to support the mainland campaign. The incident appears in the Guinness records: Ramree Island was the scene of an alleged massacre of Japanese . 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. Not a single one did. What happened next is a bit of a mystery; however, according to one version of the story the best-known version only 20 of the soldiers who entered the marshes made it out alive; the rest were eaten by crocodiles. Read Next: The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? 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 story goes that during World War II, 1,000 Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocodiles on the island. However there were around 500 more of the escaping men who never left the swamp. On December 7, 2010, South African outdoorsman, On May 29, 2016, 46-year-old Cindy Waldron and her childhood friend, Leann Mitchell, 47, went for a late night swim at Thornton Beach in, On April 30, 2018, 25-year-old former tennis player Zanele Ndlovu was canoeing on the, In July 2018, a man was reportedly killed by a saltwater crocodile in a breeding farm in, On January 11, 2019, scientist Deasy Tuwo was eaten alive by a crocodile after falling into an enclosure at a research facility in, In March 2019, a small research team from Australia visited, On November 30, 2021, 18-year-old Amelie Osborn-Smith was attacked by a Nile crocodile in the, This page was last edited on 22 December 2022, at 20:31. The only account that seems to prove any of this information comes from Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the battle of Ramree. [2] Contents Ramree Island, part of Arakan (now Rakhine State), has an area of 520sqmi (1,350km2) and is separated from the mainland by a strait with an average width of about 490ft (150m); the island is 70mi (110km) south of Akyab (now Sittwe). The rest were according to legend, eaten by crocodiles. The largest crocodile ever killed was a saltwater crocodile that measured 23 feet and weighed 2,370 pounds. Pooley, S. (2016). Some British soldiers, including naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the expedition, claimed that crocodiles attacked and ate numerous Japanese soldiers. One thing is for certain: When given the choice of surrendering or taking chances in a crocodile-infested swamp, choose surrender. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. In April 2010, a 25-year-old woman from New Jersey was killed by a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling in India's Andaman Islands. 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. It is mentioned in his1962 book Wildlife Sketches: Near and Far. He thanks you for reading his content. The Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they went into the mangrove swamp of Ramree Island anyway. Right beside the carcass of the Giant Crocodile, there were 2 skills books, a green treasure box and 200 Survivor Coins. [8] It took until 16 April for the airfield to be used for transport sorties, Akyab having come into use on 1 April. Gustave, a Nile crocodile once described as a serial killer by National Geographic, is believed to have killed as many as 300 people in the east African nation of Burundi in the 1980s and 1990s. Death came to them from many different sources, scorpions, disease, drowning and of course the crocodiles. Then, read up on Desmond Doss, the Hacksaw Ridge medic who saved dozens of soldiers lives during World War II. 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. [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. [3] A plan was ready by 2 January, when it was clear that the advance of the Fourteenth Army (Lieutenant-General William Slim) would soon pass beyond the range of its airbases at Imphal and Agartala; replacements at Chittagong, Akyab and Ramree would be needed. This very situation happened to Japanese troops occupying Ramree Island in the Bay of Bengal during World War II in early 1945. 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. February 1945, Japanese forces on Ramree island attempt to withdraw from the British and link up with a larger force. As the boat moved away from the shore and headed out to sea the intense heat and humidity of mid-summer began to fade as we sailed into an ocean climate. British troops monitored the situation from afar at the edge of the swamp. The rest were reportedly eaten alive by hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles. Hundreds of crocodiles lurked in the murky waters, hungry for human flesh. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. This post will reveal the historical account of the Ramree Island Massacre. 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 many Japanese soldiers were actually eaten by salt water crocodiles? It is undoubtedly a gripping tale, so its not surprising that this account has motivated a swathe of articles. 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 Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they went into the mangrove swamp of Ramree Island anyway. Perhaps the biggest question that the crocodile story doesnt sufficiently answer concerns the staggering death toll: How did only 20 Japanese soldiers survive? One night the British soldiers reported hearing panicked screams and gunfire emanating from within the darkness of the swamp. 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. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The story comes from the writings of Bruce Stanley Wright, a British naturalist who was presumed to be at the scene. For example, the British official history (War against Japan Volume IV: The Reconquest of Burma, 1965 (2004)) serves as the main source in the study of the Fourteenth Armys attempt to drive the overstretched Japanese from Burma beginning in the late summer of 1944. So the next time youre going through a swamp, just remember the story of the Ramree Island Massacre and be grateful that you werent one of the 500 Japanese soldiers who lost their lives to these crocodiles. Where did Japanese soldiers get eaten by crocodiles? On the night of the 19th of February 1945, Allied forces in Burma were allegedly aided in their efforts by a group of reptiles which decimated over 90% of their enemy. Details of a fatal attack on a human by a Morelets crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) in Belize. The unit was trapped and had no way to reach the safety of the larger battalion. In Burma, the Allies faced a fierce enemy not only adept in jungle warfare and but also notorious for their suicidal kamikaze charges. After just a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. 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. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. If Wright's claims were correct, the Ramree crocodile attacks would still be the most tragic . On mainland Burma, diseases such as malaria accounted for almost half the total death toll of Allied forces. A saltwater crocodile (photograph by Heather Paul). See. However, death toll estimates vary. What the British do know for sure is that 20 men came out of the swamp alive and were captured. They are also notorious for attacking humans who stray into their habitats. And in an incident not unlike the infamous U.S.S Indianapolis shark attack that befell American troops later that year, many of these troops didnt survive. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. The 4th Indian Infantry Brigade had advanced to Ledaung Chaung and then moved east to reinforce the attack; the town fell on 9 February. A SCIENTIST was eaten alive by a 17ft long crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week. And in an incident not unlike the infamous U.S.S Indianapolis shark attack that befell American troops later that year, many of these troops didn't survive. pp. The swamps were infested with mosquitoes, leeches, and snakes. The following day, the 4th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier J. F. R. Forman) landed, took over the beachhead and occupied Kyaukpyu. [marine launch] crews ever experienced. So instead of following the Japanese into the swamps, they decided to wait them out. The route took the Japanese through 9.9mi (16km) of mangrove swamp and as they struggled through it, the British encircled the area. 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. The island lies off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe. The swamps were full of saltwater crocodiles. Moreover, even a medium-sized saltwater crocodile could easily kill a human. We went in with boats and interpreters using loudhailers asking them to come out. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.Thanks: Bernard Dupont In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. A preliminary analysis of worldwide crocodilian attacks. At the time, British forces needed an airbase in the area of Ramree Island in order to launch more attacks against the Japanese. This suggests that the Japanese did not suffer a major setback of over 900 men finished off on the night of February 19th. 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. [1][3][13] Four of them, the Siamese crocodile, broad-snouted caiman, spectacled caiman and yacare caiman, each are suspected to have been the perpetrator of a single fatal attack on a child (smaller and therefore a more likely target than an adult), although for each of these cases the identity of the species is not completely certain.[14][15][16][17]. William DeLong is a freelance wordsmith. Sideleau, B. The island lies off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe. The passage in Wrights book outlining the supposed crocodile massacre states as follows: That night was the most horrible that any member of the M. L. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. The design was hopelessly flawed. However, thousands of enemy troops held the island, causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks. The maneuver split the enemy group in two and isolated about 1,000 Japanese soldiers. Typical male specimens reach 17 feet long and 1,000 pounds and the largest can reach 23 feet and 2,200 pounds. Japanese Soldiers Burma Crocodiles? Reconnaissance carried out on 14 January 1945, found that Japanese forces were placing artillery in caves overlooking the landing beaches on Ramree and the Royal Navy assigned the battleship HMSQueen Elizabeth, the escort carrier HMSAmeer, light cruiser HMSPhoebe, the destroyers Rapid, Napier, Norman and Pathfinder, with the sloops Flamingo and HMISKistna. During the night 980 Japanese soldiers are said to have been lost to saltwater crocodiles living in the swamp. There was a story that hundreds of people died getting slaughter by crocodiles in just one night. Did crocodiles eat Japanese soldiers? The island that holds the world-record for largest human massacre caused by animals. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. The incident was even included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1968 under worst crocodile disaster in the world as well as most fatalities in a crocodile attack (despite there being not a single death officially recorded). Describing the incident in his 1962 book Wildlife Sketches, the Canadian naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright wrote that an estimated 1,000 Japanese soldiers fled into the marshes and that only 20 came out alive. The naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright described the scene unfolding in his 1962 book,Wildlife Sketches Near and Far: That night was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. While this may have seemed a fine opportunity to slip into the wilderness and regroup, most of the Japanese soldiers would never be heard from again. Some of them being so badly injured and mauled that they were later recaptured by the British forces. In Hawaii, the Corps deactivated the famous 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. Joseph Howard received a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life to save others. (now Myanmar). It had been vital to complete the occupation of Ramree Island quickly, as Operation Dracula against Rangoon needed to commence in the first week of May at the latest, to have a chance of finishing before the monsoon. Gas prices have fallen since mid-June. 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. 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. They didnt know what exactly caused the shouts of terror they heard, but only that the Japanese troops were being ravaged by some evil menace. The mangrove swamp was thick with mud and it was slow-going. A biologist solves the mystery of two dozen missing animal mummies. 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. It is estimated that each year hundreds of people die from crocodile attacks in Africa many of these attacks are never reported in the media. On the 19th of the month, the Japanese unit attempted to make its way through 10 miles of swamp to link up with a larger unit. The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of 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. 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. According to one Allied commander: [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. 900 soldiers entered the swamp only 20 emerged. The debacle was so bad that the Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. Too much bad in the world Let us not add to it Nine hundred soldiers of an Imperial Japanese Army unit, in an attempt to retreat from the Royal Navy and rejoin a larger battalion of the Japanese infantry, crossed through sixteen kilometres (ten miles) of mangrove swamps that contained saltwater crocodiles. Soon after entering the slimy mudhole, Japanese soldiers began to succumb to diseases, dehydration, and starvation. Many historians debunk the tale of the massacre, but some facts do point to some veracity of the incident. Jayma April 15, 2022. If you do attempt it, you face the crocodiles. Some editions of the Guinness Book of World Records have attributed the highest number of fatalities in an animal attack to the battle; zoologists and modern military historians have dismissed these claims. Do you risk your life in the swamp or put your life in the hands of the enemy? 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 years that indicates that the true story was buried amid a flurry of sensational reporting. The crocodiles would silently stalk their prey before attacking with lightning speed; humans are no match for the saltwater crocodile when considering their power, size, and weight. In this official account there are references to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island. 13. The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? Mosquitoes, spiders, poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the thick forest and picked off some troops one by one. 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. So, instead of accepting their fate, they chose to make an 8-mile journey through the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. The crocodiles, alerted by the din of warfare and smell of blood, gathered among the mangroves, lying with their eyes above the water, watchfully alert for their next meal. Furthermore, this official account which contains no mention of the massacre, nevertheless emphasizes the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945. [7], The large number of ships was intended to provide more firepower in support of the landing force. This was particularly so in the mangrove swamps where such reptiles thrive, like on Ramree Island. The Japanese soldiers retreated, and some went into the mangrove swamps. 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