An unfortunate end was met by Halima Rahakbauw, a 54-year-old grandmother, who was attacked by a crocodile while washing dishes in Indonesia’s Wali River on the Maluku islands in Indonesia. The attack took place in the morning during her routine post-meal clean-up.
According to her family, Halima, who lived in a nearby village, had gone to the river early in the morning to collect clams and wash dishes. A relative, Jamia Seknun, said Halima had left home early, fearing the river level would rise by midday.
Around 10:30 in the morning, a passerby named Ali Rahangmetan noticed an unusual disturbance in the water while crossing the Wali Bridge. He initially thought it was a swimmer but soon realized the horrific truth. Ali recounted the chilling moment, saying, “I saw someone swimming, but I couldn’t see their body. Only their legs were visible. To make sure, I went out of my car and finally saw that it was a human being eaten by a crocodile. I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. Only the legs and intestines of the person were visible.”
Immediately after witnessing the event, Ali contacted the local authorities, who swiftly initiated a search for Halima. Her family had already reported her missing, as she had not returned home from her morning trip to the river. The police, in their desperate search, managed to capture the female crocodile, approximately 14 feet long, which was still consuming Halima’s body.
The authorities killed the crocodile, and with the assistance of local villagers, retrieved Halima’s remains from the predator’s stomach. One villager reported seeing “a leg hanging out of its mouth” when the crocodile was captured.
Indonesia is home to various crocodile species, including the aggressive saltwater crocodile. Over-fishing and habitat loss have led to the crocodile population moving closer to human settlements in recent years. This has forced these dangerous reptiles to search for food further inland, resulting in fatal encounters with humans.
Earlier this month, a similar incident occurred when a 40-year-old Australian man named Dave Hogbin was killed by a crocodile while fishing with his family in Far North Queensland. In 2018, nearly 300 crocodiles were slaughtered by a mob in Papua after a local man was killed by one.
As Indonesia continues to expand, many locals still depend on rivers for daily activities like bathing, fishing, and washing, which increases their vulnerability to crocodile attacks. Rural communities are particularly at risk due to limited safety measures and awareness about the dangers posed by these predators.
The Indonesian government has been called upon to strengthen protective measures and raise awareness to prevent future attacks. However, with human activities continuing to encroach upon crocodile habitats, such incidents are likely to continue. Local authorities are currently investigating Halima’s death and are collaborating with wildlife experts to manage the growing crocodile threat in the region.
For Halima Rahakbauw’s family, the Wali River, once a provider of life and resources, has turned into a site of unspeakable horror. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lie beneath the river’s surface, upon which they have relied for generations.