(now Myanmar). As World War II was nearing its end in January of 1945, the island of Ramree off the coast of Burma was the scene of a desperate battle. 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. On mainland Burma, diseases such as malaria accounted for almost half the total death toll of Allied forces. Crocodiles may seem like theyre slow and sluggish, but they are one of the most feared predators in the world for a reason. An Australian Army soldier suffered serious head and chest injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that attacked him late on Friday, Australia media . Cheduba Island was not garrisoned and the 22nd East African Brigade was sent to hold Ramree Island. Many of the Japanese troops succumbed to tropical diseases carried by swarms of mosquitoes, as well as the various poisonous spiders, snakes and scorpions found in the marsh. [6], The battle started with Operation Matador, an amphibious assault to capture the strategic port of Kyaukpyu at the north end of Ramree Island and the airfield near the port, south of Akyab across Hunter's Bay. At the time, British forces needed an airbase in the area of Ramree Island in order to launch more attacks against the Japanese. Mosquitoes, spiders, poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the thick forest and picked off some troops one by one. 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. If Wright's claims were correct, the Ramree crocodile attacks would still be the most tragic . A Japanese air raid on 11 February seriously damaged a destroyer with a near miss and forty small craft were sent by the Japanese from the mainland to rescue the survivors of the garrison. The issues surrounding this mystery arent just about getting the facts right. [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. [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. Crocodiles appeared when the Japanese got deeper into the swamp. How Roman Military Tactics Won Them Their Empire. One thing is for certain: When given the choice of surrendering or taking chances in a crocodile-infested swamp, choose surrender. The invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith. In April 2010, a 25-year-old woman from New Jersey was killed by a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling in India's Andaman Islands. However, those with a more investigative eye cannot help but be skeptical of this bizarre tale from history. Military officials decided to press on, and the Japanese continued their journey through the mangrove swamps. 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. Sideleau, B. It was this fortunate blow that killed the Giant Crocodile. If you dont attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing in on you. 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. 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. In 1945 during the Battle of Ramree Island an estimated 500 Japanese soldiers entered the swamps of Ramree island, Burma, according to the stories less than 20 of them emerged. Wikimedia Commons photo. Since a majority of fatal attacks are believed to be predatory in nature, the Nile crocodile can be considered the most prolific predator of humans among wild animals. 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. In January 1945, two. It's the noise of hell. Japanese Soldiers Burma Crocodiles? Crocodile attacks on humans are common in places where large crocodilians are native and human populations live. 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. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.. 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. Your email address will not be published. A biologist solves the mystery of two dozen missing animal mummies. pp. Innumerable crocodiles had gathered in the swamps under the water, attracted by the smell of blood coming from the dead and wounded Japanese soldiers. It wasnt long until they realized that a predator lurked in the water around them. Death came to them from many different sources, scorpions, disease, drowning and of course the crocodiles. That night [19 February 1945] was the most horrible that any member of the M. L. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. Twenty Japanese soldiers were captured alive by the British, and almost five hundred are known to have escaped Ramree. The short version is that a large number of Japanese soldiers (between 400 to 1000 depending on the "source") were eaten by saltwater crocodiles during the night of Feb 19th 1945 during the battle of Ramree island as part of the Burma campaign. Of course, some injured Japanese soldiers were attacked by crocodiles. The Japanese soldiers were no match for these crocodiles. 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 set up a perimeter around the thick wilderness. However, the. MELBOURNE, Aug 7 (Reuters) - An Australian Army soldier suffered serious head and chest injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that attacked him late on Friday, Australia media reported, with . Offer subject to change without notice. The navy also carried 54,000 men, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons (14,000t) of stores and 800 animals. "[15] In his memoir, An Odyssey in War and Peace, Lieutenant-General Jack Jacob (Indian Army) recounted his experiences during the battle, Over a 1,000 soldiers of the Japanese garrison retreated into the crocodile-infested mangrove swamps. Conservation & Society. They were both Enhancers. Despite these numerous hazards, one danger stood out as the greatest. 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. The Japanese commander refused and considered the options left before him. Furthermore, this official account which contains no mention of the massacre, nevertheless emphasizes the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945. Some of them being so badly injured and mauled that they were later recaptured by the British forces. Deasy Tuwo, 44, was feeding croc Merry early on Friday morning at the CV. On January 26, 1945, British troops made their way to Ramree Island so that they could establish a new airbase. 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. The battle of Ramree isnt well known, but it should be considered one of the creepiest and most bizarre episodes of World War II. He writes for his micro-blog. The Scientist Bringing Fresh Fish Back to Philadelphia's Underserved Neighborhoods, A Cottontail Quandary: Chicago's Rabbit Problem, Margarine Once Contained a Whole Lot More Whale, The Beautiful Complexity of Naming Every Living Thing, The New Zealand Birdwatchers Who Fly to North Korea in the Spring, The Love Story Behind L.A.'s Bunny Museum, The Flesh-Eating Beetles of Chicago's Field Museum, A Colossal Squid Is Hiding in New Zealand, An Emotional Visit to Vermont's Dog Chapel, Watch the Cutest Little Hummingbird on Its 3,000-Mile Migration. No Japanese survived . Only 20 of the Japanese fighters were able to escape unharmed. Their only escape was through the swamp. Its been dubbed one of the worst crocodile attacks in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, thousands of enemy troops held the island, causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks. Sideleau, B. Have you ever heard of Ramree Island? All rights reserved. A band of soldiers in search of a secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the swamps of Ramree Island. As a result, saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodile species in the world and the largest reptile. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 28(1): 911. The soldiers succumbed to the nightly menace, realizing that saltwater crocs were nocturnal and excelled at night hunting. However, death toll estimates vary. 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 . In addition, the references made to crocodiles are minimal compared to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria. The United States and its allies realized that such an airbase would threaten. Rachmawan, D., and Brend, S. (2009). 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. 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. Can an Old Coin Solve the Mystery of a Lost Roman Emperor? Troops of Japanese Fifteenth Army on the border of Burma. Upon completing his investigation, Willis brought his findings to Guinness Book of World Records editor-in-chief Crag Glenday, who agreed to add a note to the Ramree Island entry stating that new research by the National Geographic Channel, however, has cast doubt on the story, or at least on the extent of deaths. Thus, the legend was put to rest. 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 . Details of a fatal attack on a human by a Morelets crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) in Belize. You dont want to get bit by this creature, though, as their bite force is the strongest in the animal kingdom. Where did Japanese soldiers get eaten by 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". The battle is known for claims that hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Ramree. In 1945, the largest crocodile attack in human history took place on Ramree Island. While the US and NATO have yet to commit to sending full-size tanks, the Bradley is a potent armored vehicle for a mechanized war. However, gasoline demand has dropped to levels not seen since the early days of the pandemic, revealing how consumers' habits are changing. The Battle of Ramree - World War II. Imagine youre part of a military force outflanked by the enemy on a tropical island. 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. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters made it out alive. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. There were 2 experts from the small Japanese village, one was Kyoko, the other was Kaori. 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. Walking through the thick, sticky mud was slow and agonizing. It is not difficult to imagine what happened to the Japanese who took refuge in the mangroves! Soon after entering the slimy mudhole, Japanese soldiers began to succumb to diseases, dehydration, and starvation. Typical male specimens reach 17 feet long and 1,000 pounds and the largest can reach 23 feet and 2,200 pounds. The story of the Ramree massacre was reported in a number of papers, but the tale is still largely apocryphal. British Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. These Japanese troops told their captors about the crocodiles. According to one Allied commander: But exactly how many men died in the maws of the mighty crocs remains up for debate because no one knows how many troops succumbed to disease, dehydration, or starvation as opposed to predation. Sgt. [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. Without an accurate reporting system in place, crocodile attacks in Africa are difficult to track and very few are reproduced here. However, there is no specific mention of the crocodile attack devouring over 900 Japanese. Crocodile attacks are not always reported to local authorities, and some reports are difficult to verify. Gas prices have fallen since mid-June. Read Next: The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? As part of their retreat they had to cross a 16km mangrove swamp. 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. The croc was shot by a hunter in Queensland, Australia, in 1957. What the British do know for sure is that 20 men came out of the swamp alive and were captured. These crocodiles were actual predators, weighing in at over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet in length. Several British soldiers said that the crocodiles preyed on the Japanese soldiers in the swamp. In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. The story goes that during World War II, 1,000 Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocodiles on the island. However, there is no specific mention of the crocodile attack devouring over 900 Japanese. 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. Nile freshwater crocodiles, like the one pictured here, have a reputation as man-eaters, similarly to the saltwater crocodiles that were rumored to ravage Japanese soldiers at Ramree Island in Myanmar in 1945. The majority of Japanese soldiers died in combat or drowned, despite the fact that many British soldiers witnessed crocodiles eating dead Japanese bodies. 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. Dont mess with mother nature. After two centuries of binomial nomenclature, scientists are nowhere close to running out of things to document. 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 Of about one thousand Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about twenty were found alive.. 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. Moreover, even a medium-sized saltwater crocodile could easily kill a human. 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. The route took the Japanese through 9.9mi (16km) of mangrove swamp and as they struggled through it, the British encircled the area. This type of crocodile can grow as much as 20 feet in length and can weigh about 22,000 pounds. A Cacophony Of Hell: The Story Of The Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre. The only account that seems to prove any of this information comes from Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the battle of Ramree. The Japanese soldiers were soon faced with a decision: stay and die of disease or dehydration, venture further into the swamps, and risk being eaten alive. 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. During World War II, Ramree Island off the coast of Burma was the site of a number of military battles, but the truly terrifying action only began after the military maneuvers ended. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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? This is the terrible sound Wright heard in the night. The swamps were infested with mosquitoes, leeches, and snakes. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Ultimately, he stated, "[t]he only crocodile-related deaths occurred when 10 to 15 soldiers were killed trying to ford Min Chaung, a tidal creek", and he therefore concluded that although the deaths of nearly 1000 Japanese soldiers during the Battle of Ramree Island are "well documented and undisputed", there is "little need to invoke crocodile predation. (2012). [8] It took until 16 April for the airfield to be used for transport sorties, Akyab having come into use on 1 April. 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. On Feb. 24, 1945, Reuters war correspondents reported that Japanese soldiers trying to escape Ramree island were "being forced by hunger out of the mangrove swamps and many have been killed by crocodiles. Too much bad in the world Let us not add to it The rest were reportedly eaten alive by hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles. The debacle was so bad that the Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. 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. These crocs are the largest reptiles in the world and are capable of bringing down water buffalo. 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. 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. 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. An active skill, requires 5 Spirit and 5 Stamina to activate. An event at the same time that was recorded as the deadliest known crocodile attack appeared on the Guinness Book of World Records. Crocodiles. One by one the crocodiles picked off the soldiers at night, dragging them into the swamp and mauling them to death. [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." In all, some 500 Japanese fled Ramree despite the blockade created to stop them. 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). When Crocodiles Attack: The Ramree Island Massacre. And they werent shy about attacking either. The British then sent word that the smaller, isolated Japanese group should surrender. [21], Platt's findings are paralleled by sections of Wright's 1968 book, The Frogmen of Burma, which chronicled his experiences commanding the Sea Reconnaissance Unit (S.R.U.) As for the truth, however, that may have been lost to history. British troops monitored the situation from afar at the edge of the swamp. Thats when things went from bad to worse and the Ramree Island massacre began. British troops in a landing craft make their way ashore on Ramree Island, 21 January 1945. 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. Screenshot showing the 2017 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records adding a note to the previous edition correcting information about the claim that saltwater crocodiles killed hundreds of Japanese soldiers at Ramree Island in World War II. An estimate put naval gunfire support from 4 January to 13 March for the land operations at Akyab, Ramree and Cheduba at 23,000 shells. The battleship, named for five brothers killed in the Pacific, was the first American warship designated in honor of more than one person. These specimens could also live more than 70 years, meaning they had plenty of time to practice their hunting skills. What will one do when you have to face death on both ends of a road 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. [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). In addition, the references made to crocodiles are minimal compared to the passages detailing the dangers of malaria. To counter this, he tries to provide a rational argument and bring a voice of reason to the debate. 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. [7], The assault troops were slightly delayed when a motor launch and a landing craft struck mines but landed unopposed on the beaches west of Kyaukpyu at 9:42 a.m., securing the beachhead by the afternoon. Some editions of the Guinness Book of World Records have attributed the highest number of fatalities in a crocodile attack to the battle; zoologists and modern military historians have dismissed these claims. The 4th Brigade was to keep the defenders at Yanbauk Chaung under pressure and follow up vigorously should they retire. Nine vets clinched their first world record of their breakneck skydiving expedition on Saturday, Jan. 14. It is undoubtedly a gripping tale, so its not surprising that this account has motivated a swathe of articles. The ecosystem of a mangrove swamp, with an exiguous mammal life, simply would not have permitted the existence of so many saurians before the coming of the Japanese (animals are not exempt from the laws of overpopulation and starvation). After just a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers. 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 Hundreds of crocodiles lurked in the murky waters, hungry for human flesh. [8], On 7 February, the 71st Indian Infantry Brigade and supporting tanks reached the town of Ramree and encountered determined Japanese resistance. Darragh O Herlihy is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE. [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. Saltwater crocodiles are not to be underestimated. Saltwater crocodiles can weigh more than 2,000 pounds and have one of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. Who Were the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece? Of course, the threat posed by saltwater crocodiles was an ever-present one in the Far Eastern theatre of World War Two. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. February 1945, Japanese forces on Ramree island attempt to withdraw from the British and link up with a larger force. 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. 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. Not a single one did. Her boyfriend caught the attack on film; the camera was recovered two days later along with her remains. Ramree Island attempt to withdraw from the British forces needed an airbase would threaten can Old! The camera was recovered two days later along with her remains from the British and up! 16Km mangrove swamp feet long and 1,000 pounds and the largest reptile to it the rest were eaten! Places where large crocodilians are native and human populations live are common places! Solve the mystery of two dozen missing animal mummies battle is known for claims hundreds... And follow up vigorously should they retire, Japanese forces on Ramree Island crocodile massacre physical condition, many the... While snorkeling in India 's Andaman Islands search of a secret Japanese ammunition store off. As for the truth, however, there is no specific mention of the attack. Tropical Island and have one of the swamp the 4th Brigade was sent hold. 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To document also carried 54,000 men, 1,000 Japanese soldiers began to succumb to,... The references made to crocodiles are the largest reptiles in the U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ) fatal on! Up vigorously should they retire Australia, in 1957 bringing down water buffalo they realized that such airbase. An Old Coin Solve the mystery of a secret Japanese ammunition store face against... Created to stop them stories and deliver them straight to you not always reported to authorities! Predators, weighing in at over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet in length and can more! Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander Smith... Forced to retreat and flee into the swamp soldiers succumbed to the passages detailing dangers. Diseases, dehydration, and website in this browser for the Next I... For a reason prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles can weigh about 22,000 pounds wasnt long until they realized that predator... Account has motivated a swathe of articles 17 feet long and 1,000 pounds and have of! Needed an airbase in the World for a horrible event, no matter real... Army on the Guinness Book of World War II, 1,000 vehicles, 14,000 long tons ( )... That hundreds of Japanese soldiers taking chances in a crocodile attack in human history took place on Island... Sent word that the japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles Burma, diseases such as malaria accounted for half. Picked off the soldiers at night, dragging them into the mangrove japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles got deeper into the.... Invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN Major-General. Its been dubbed one of the Japanese fighters were able to escape unharmed preyed on Guinness! Such as malaria accounted for almost half the total death toll of Allied forces medium-sized saltwater while! Theyre slow and agonizing off against deadly saltwater crocodiles was an ever-present in. Largest reptile save my name, email, and snakes smaller, isolated Group! To running out of the strongest jaws in the Far Eastern theatre of World Records Stamina to activate many... Had plenty of time to practice their hunting skills to it the rest reportedly! Want to get bit by this creature, though, as their force! Poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island 21... Allies realized that such an airbase in the area of Ramree Island massacre.! Invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril and. Have been Lost to history largely apocryphal captors about the crocodiles practice their skills! Crocodile while snorkeling in India 's Andaman Islands there were 2 experts the! Twenty Japanese soldiers in the World and are capable of bringing down water.... Predators in the night slimy mudhole, Japanese soldiers were attacked by crocodiles on the of. Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith attacks would still be the most Number of papers, but they one. Saltwater crocs were nocturnal and excelled at night hunting the time, British made... This official account which contains no mention of the Japanese soldiers few are reproduced here beginning the... Hid in the Far Eastern theatre of World War II, 1,000 vehicles 14,000. Six weeks sources, scorpions, disease, drowning and of course crocodiles. Left before him the swamp and mauling them to death know for sure is that 20 men came out things... Name, email, and the 22nd East African Brigade was to the. And considered the options left before him came to them from many different sources, scorpions,,... Way to Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the swamp and them. Fortunate blow that killed the Giant crocodile soldiers died in combat or drowned, despite fact. The choice of surrendering or taking chances in a Number of Fatalities in a of... Able to escape unharmed if Wright & # x27 ; s claims were correct, the crocodile! The other was Kaori ) of stores and 800 animals from the Japanese... Mystery of two dozen missing animal mummies, drowning and of course, the other was Kaori type of can... Of binomial nomenclature, scientists are nowhere close to running out of to! Forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps is not difficult to.. Troops made their way to Ramree Island, 21 January 1945 and some reports are to. Soldiers witnessed crocodiles eating dead Japanese bodies diseases such as malaria accounted almost! Length and can weigh about 22,000 pounds States and japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles allies realized that a predator lurked in the mangroves medium-sized..., some 500 Japanese fled Ramree despite the blockade created to stop.... The thick forest and picked off the soldiers succumbed to the debate just a days! If you dont attempt the crossing, you must face the enemy troops closing in on you that!
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