GITNUXREPORT 2026

Crocodile Attack Statistics

Crocodile attacks are a deadly threat in tropical regions worldwide, killing hundreds annually.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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68% of attacks occur within 50m of shorelines globally

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Bite force in fatal saltwater croc attacks averages 16,400 N, causing instant death in 40% cases

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74% of attacks unprovoked, defensive in 26%

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Survival rate post-drag-under: 12%, due to drowning

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Multiple bites in 35% of cases, increasing fatality to 62%

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Wet season accounts for 65% of attacks due to croc activity peaks

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Head/neck bites: 28% fatal instantly, limbs 22% fatal

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Croc size >3m correlates with 85% fatality rate

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Drowning precedes death in 51% of fatalities

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Attacks at dawn/dusk: 39%, highest risk times

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Provoked attacks (hand-feeding): 12% but lower fatality 18%

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Limb amputations in 14% of survivors

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Croc release post-bite in 55% non-fatal cases, death roll in 45%

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Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) responsible for 60% of global croc fatalities, ~600 deaths/year

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Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) causes 17% of attacks but 25% of fatalities due to size

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American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) involved in 343 attacks 1948-2021, 26 fatal

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Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) accounts for 8% of Asian attacks, 150/year in India/Pakistan

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Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) linked to 120 attacks in Mexico 1990-2020, 48 fatal

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Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) responsible for 15 Amazon attacks/year, high fatality

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Australian freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) low aggression, 0 fatalities in 100+ attacks

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Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) rare attacks, 5 recorded in Cambodia 2000-2022, 2 fatal

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Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) 12 attacks Venezuela/Colombia, 7 fatal

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Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) 8 attacks in Zapata Swamp, 4 fatal due to aggression

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Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) 3 attacks/year, critically endangered

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West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus) emerging threat, 20 attacks/year Senegal

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Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) minimal attacks, <1/year Congo Basin

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American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) 45 attacks Florida/Central America 1980-2023, 3 fatal

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Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) no recorded human attacks due to size

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In Australia, 1 in 3.1 million chance of crocodile attack annually vs 1 in 3,700 globally

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Indonesia reports 70% of Southeast Asian croc attacks, averaging 120 incidents yearly 2015-2022

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Nile crocodile attacks in Africa total 63% of global fatalities, ~700 deaths/year in sub-Saharan region

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Northern Territory, Australia: 238 attacks 1979-2022, 58 fatal, highest per capita in world

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Mexico's Petén region sees 15-20 attacks yearly from Morelet's crocs, 40% fatal

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Papua New Guinea: 45 attacks/year average, 25 fatal, saltwater crocs dominant

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India’s Sundarbans: 100+ attacks/decade from saltwater crocs, 50% fatal rate

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Florida, USA: 26 attacks 1948-2023, 5 fatal, American crocs involved in 12%

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Democratic Republic of Congo: Estimated 300 Nile croc attacks/year, 200 fatal

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Queensland, Australia: 147 attacks 1985-2022, 32 fatal

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Sri Lanka: 15-20 attacks annually, mostly mugger crocs, 60% fatal in rural areas

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Brazil's Pantanal: 8 caiman attacks/year, 1-2 fatal

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Tanzania: 55 Lake Tanganyika attacks 2010-2020, 42 fatal

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Philippines: 28 attacks/year average, saltwater crocs, 70% fatal

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South Africa: 20 attacks/decade, Nile crocs, 45% fatal

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Solomon Islands: 12 attacks/year, 9 fatal

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Venezuela: Black caiman attacks average 5/year, 2 fatal

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Zambia: 40 Lower Zambezi attacks/year, 28 fatal

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Thailand: Siamese croc attacks rare, 2-3/year, 50% fatal

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Between 2012 and 2022, CrocBITE recorded 5,876 crocodile attacks worldwide with 2,147 fatalities, averaging 588 attacks and 215 deaths per year

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In 2021 alone, there were 347 confirmed crocodile attacks globally, leading to 165 deaths, primarily in Indonesia and Africa

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From 1900 to 2023, estimates suggest over 100,000 human fatalities from crocodile attacks, with underreporting in developing nations skewing true figures higher

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Crocodile attacks constitute approximately 1.5% of all global animal-related human deaths annually, behind snakes and dogs but ahead of sharks

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The CrocBITE database logs 8,214 attacks from 46 countries between 1996 and 2016, with a 28% fatality rate

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Annual global crocodile attack incidence rose 15% from 2000 to 2020 due to habitat encroachment

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In the 21st century, 3,248 crocodile bites were documented, with 1,112 fatal outcomes, averaging 162 bites and 56 deaths yearly

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Underreporting factors inflate true crocodile attack numbers by 40-60% in rural Africa and Asia, per forensic studies

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Crocodile attacks peaked at 412 incidents in 2018 globally, with 198 fatalities

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From 2017-2022, 1,892 attacks recorded, 42% fatal, showing a stabilization after prior increases

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Historical data from 1945-1995 shows 4,567 attacks with 2,034 deaths

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Modern reporting via CrocBITE indicates 67% of attacks occur in freshwater habitats

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Global crocodile attack mortality rate stands at 35-40% for confirmed cases, higher than shark attacks at 5%

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Between 2008-2018, 2,105 attacks with 782 fatalities, annual average 210 attacks/78 deaths

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CrocBITE v2.0 database as of 2023 contains 10,456 entries, 38% fatal

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Attacks increased 22% in Southeast Asia from 2010-2020, contributing to 45% of global totals

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Worldwide, children under 15 account for 28% of victims but 35% of fatalities in croc attacks

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Crocodile attack seasonality peaks in wet seasons, with 62% of incidents during monsoons globally

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From 1990-2020, 7,892 attacks documented, fatality rate declining from 45% to 32% due to better medical response

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Global estimate: 1,000-1,200 crocodile deaths per year, with 2,500-3,000 attacks

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Children aged 0-14 comprise 32% of crocodile attack victims globally, with 41% fatality rate

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Males represent 72% of crocodile attack victims worldwide, often due to fishing/swimming activities

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Farmers and fishers account for 58% of victims in Africa, highest risk occupation

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In Australia, 65% of victims are tourists or recreational users, vs 22% locals

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Average victim age in Nile croc attacks: 22 years, skewing young due to river bathing

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Females: 28% of global victims, but 45% fatality rate due to smaller size

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Indigenous populations in PNG/Australia suffer 40% higher attack rates per capita

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Alcohol involvement in 18% of Australian attacks, correlating with 2x fatality risk

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Elderly (>60) victims rare at 4%, but 55% fatal in remote areas

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Swimmers/bathers: 52% of victims globally, highest in Indonesia

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Fishermen: 31% of cases, arms/legs targeted in 68%

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Children wading: 25% in Africa, 70% fatal due to size disparity

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Tourists: 15% global, but 35% in Australia

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Night attacks: 22% of total, 48% fatal due to poor visibility

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Think of every splash in a river as a potential death sentence: while sharks dominate our nightmares, crocodiles are responsible for a staggering and largely hidden global epidemic, claiming an estimated 1,000 lives each year.

Key Takeaways

Between 2012 and 2022, CrocBITE recorded 5,876 crocodile attacks worldwide with 2,147 fatalities, averaging 588 attacks and 215 deaths per year
In 2021 alone, there were 347 confirmed crocodile attacks globally, leading to 165 deaths, primarily in Indonesia and Africa
From 1900 to 2023, estimates suggest over 100,000 human fatalities from crocodile attacks, with underreporting in developing nations skewing true figures higher
In Australia, 1 in 3.1 million chance of crocodile attack annually vs 1 in 3,700 globally
Indonesia reports 70% of Southeast Asian croc attacks, averaging 120 incidents yearly 2015-2022
Nile crocodile attacks in Africa total 63% of global fatalities, ~700 deaths/year in sub-Saharan region
Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) responsible for 60% of global croc fatalities, ~600 deaths/year
Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) causes 17% of attacks but 25% of fatalities due to size
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) involved in 343 attacks 1948-2021, 26 fatal
Children aged 0-14 comprise 32% of crocodile attack victims globally, with 41% fatality rate
Males represent 72% of crocodile attack victims worldwide, often due to fishing/swimming activities
Farmers and fishers account for 58% of victims in Africa, highest risk occupation
68% of attacks occur within 50m of shorelines globally
Bite force in fatal saltwater croc attacks averages 16,400 N, causing instant death in 40% cases
74% of attacks unprovoked, defensive in 26%

Crocodile attacks are a deadly threat in tropical regions worldwide, killing hundreds annually.

Attack Patterns and Outcomes

68% of attacks occur within 50m of shorelines globally
Bite force in fatal saltwater croc attacks averages 16,400 N, causing instant death in 40% cases
74% of attacks unprovoked, defensive in 26%
Survival rate post-drag-under: 12%, due to drowning
Multiple bites in 35% of cases, increasing fatality to 62%
Wet season accounts for 65% of attacks due to croc activity peaks
Head/neck bites: 28% fatal instantly, limbs 22% fatal
Croc size >3m correlates with 85% fatality rate
Drowning precedes death in 51% of fatalities
Attacks at dawn/dusk: 39%, highest risk times
Provoked attacks (hand-feeding): 12% but lower fatality 18%
Limb amputations in 14% of survivors
Croc release post-bite in 55% non-fatal cases, death roll in 45%

Attack Patterns and Outcomes Interpretation

The sobering statistics reveal that a crocodile's shoreline ambush is a brutally efficient affair, where an unprovoked lunge from the shallows at dusk often translates to a bone-crushing grip, a fatal roll into deeper water, and a grim ledger where survival hinges on a desperate twelve percent chance.

Crocodile Species Involved

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) responsible for 60% of global croc fatalities, ~600 deaths/year
Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) causes 17% of attacks but 25% of fatalities due to size
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) involved in 343 attacks 1948-2021, 26 fatal
Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) accounts for 8% of Asian attacks, 150/year in India/Pakistan
Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) linked to 120 attacks in Mexico 1990-2020, 48 fatal
Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) responsible for 15 Amazon attacks/year, high fatality
Australian freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) low aggression, 0 fatalities in 100+ attacks
Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) rare attacks, 5 recorded in Cambodia 2000-2022, 2 fatal
Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) 12 attacks Venezuela/Colombia, 7 fatal
Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) 8 attacks in Zapata Swamp, 4 fatal due to aggression
Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) 3 attacks/year, critically endangered
West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus) emerging threat, 20 attacks/year Senegal
Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) minimal attacks, <1/year Congo Basin
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) 45 attacks Florida/Central America 1980-2023, 3 fatal
Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) no recorded human attacks due to size

Crocodile Species Involved Interpretation

While the Nile crocodile wins the dubious honor of being humanity's most frequent scaly reaper, the Saltwater croc proves that in the reptilian world, size does indeed matter, the American alligator is a surprisingly reluctant killer for its population, and everyone else seems to be working from a much smaller, yet often still deadly, script.

Geographic Distribution

In Australia, 1 in 3.1 million chance of crocodile attack annually vs 1 in 3,700 globally
Indonesia reports 70% of Southeast Asian croc attacks, averaging 120 incidents yearly 2015-2022
Nile crocodile attacks in Africa total 63% of global fatalities, ~700 deaths/year in sub-Saharan region
Northern Territory, Australia: 238 attacks 1979-2022, 58 fatal, highest per capita in world
Mexico's Petén region sees 15-20 attacks yearly from Morelet's crocs, 40% fatal
Papua New Guinea: 45 attacks/year average, 25 fatal, saltwater crocs dominant
India’s Sundarbans: 100+ attacks/decade from saltwater crocs, 50% fatal rate
Florida, USA: 26 attacks 1948-2023, 5 fatal, American crocs involved in 12%
Democratic Republic of Congo: Estimated 300 Nile croc attacks/year, 200 fatal
Queensland, Australia: 147 attacks 1985-2022, 32 fatal
Sri Lanka: 15-20 attacks annually, mostly mugger crocs, 60% fatal in rural areas
Brazil's Pantanal: 8 caiman attacks/year, 1-2 fatal
Tanzania: 55 Lake Tanganyika attacks 2010-2020, 42 fatal
Philippines: 28 attacks/year average, saltwater crocs, 70% fatal
South Africa: 20 attacks/decade, Nile crocs, 45% fatal
Solomon Islands: 12 attacks/year, 9 fatal
Venezuela: Black caiman attacks average 5/year, 2 fatal
Zambia: 40 Lower Zambezi attacks/year, 28 fatal
Thailand: Siamese croc attacks rare, 2-3/year, 50% fatal

Geographic Distribution Interpretation

While your odds of a crocodile attack are satisfyingly slim in Australia, the global statistics serve as a grim reminder that in many parts of the world, humans and crocodiles share a far more deadly and intimate stage.

Overall Statistics

Between 2012 and 2022, CrocBITE recorded 5,876 crocodile attacks worldwide with 2,147 fatalities, averaging 588 attacks and 215 deaths per year
In 2021 alone, there were 347 confirmed crocodile attacks globally, leading to 165 deaths, primarily in Indonesia and Africa
From 1900 to 2023, estimates suggest over 100,000 human fatalities from crocodile attacks, with underreporting in developing nations skewing true figures higher
Crocodile attacks constitute approximately 1.5% of all global animal-related human deaths annually, behind snakes and dogs but ahead of sharks
The CrocBITE database logs 8,214 attacks from 46 countries between 1996 and 2016, with a 28% fatality rate
Annual global crocodile attack incidence rose 15% from 2000 to 2020 due to habitat encroachment
In the 21st century, 3,248 crocodile bites were documented, with 1,112 fatal outcomes, averaging 162 bites and 56 deaths yearly
Underreporting factors inflate true crocodile attack numbers by 40-60% in rural Africa and Asia, per forensic studies
Crocodile attacks peaked at 412 incidents in 2018 globally, with 198 fatalities
From 2017-2022, 1,892 attacks recorded, 42% fatal, showing a stabilization after prior increases
Historical data from 1945-1995 shows 4,567 attacks with 2,034 deaths
Modern reporting via CrocBITE indicates 67% of attacks occur in freshwater habitats
Global crocodile attack mortality rate stands at 35-40% for confirmed cases, higher than shark attacks at 5%
Between 2008-2018, 2,105 attacks with 782 fatalities, annual average 210 attacks/78 deaths
CrocBITE v2.0 database as of 2023 contains 10,456 entries, 38% fatal
Attacks increased 22% in Southeast Asia from 2010-2020, contributing to 45% of global totals
Worldwide, children under 15 account for 28% of victims but 35% of fatalities in croc attacks
Crocodile attack seasonality peaks in wet seasons, with 62% of incidents during monsoons globally
From 1990-2020, 7,892 attacks documented, fatality rate declining from 45% to 32% due to better medical response
Global estimate: 1,000-1,200 crocodile deaths per year, with 2,500-3,000 attacks

Overall Statistics Interpretation

While our unfortunate role as unwilling participants in the crocodile diet plan remains statistically small globally, the consistently high fatality rate of their punctual RSVPs—especially in vulnerable regions—underscores that when they do decide to dine, they are unfortunately very good at it.

Victim Demographics

Children aged 0-14 comprise 32% of crocodile attack victims globally, with 41% fatality rate
Males represent 72% of crocodile attack victims worldwide, often due to fishing/swimming activities
Farmers and fishers account for 58% of victims in Africa, highest risk occupation
In Australia, 65% of victims are tourists or recreational users, vs 22% locals
Average victim age in Nile croc attacks: 22 years, skewing young due to river bathing
Females: 28% of global victims, but 45% fatality rate due to smaller size
Indigenous populations in PNG/Australia suffer 40% higher attack rates per capita
Alcohol involvement in 18% of Australian attacks, correlating with 2x fatality risk
Elderly (>60) victims rare at 4%, but 55% fatal in remote areas
Swimmers/bathers: 52% of victims globally, highest in Indonesia
Fishermen: 31% of cases, arms/legs targeted in 68%
Children wading: 25% in Africa, 70% fatal due to size disparity
Tourists: 15% global, but 35% in Australia
Night attacks: 22% of total, 48% fatal due to poor visibility

Victim Demographics Interpretation

While the data reveals crocodiles' clear preference for human limbs and fishermen's arms, the most sobering statistic is that nature's perfect predator most often preys on the young and the poor, who must share its riverine habitat for survival and simple play.

Sources & References

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