A wildlife worker at Adventure Park in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, died on September 6, 2026, after a crocodile dragged him into an enclosure and subjected him to a death roll during a feeding session.
Fatal Attack During Feeding Session at Port Moresby Adventure Park
The handler had approached the enclosure fence with chicken to feed the reptiles when the crocodile clamped its jaws onto his legs and pulled him into the water.
Desperate Screams and One-Hour Ordeal
Park visitor Gibson John told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the worker suffered severe injuries immediately.
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“He brought the chicken to the fence and the crocodile attacked the person and tried to bring him into the pool,” Mr. John said, noting that the victim was in immense pain and stated, “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Bystanders and fellow staff members scrambled to intervene as the attack continued inside the Port Moresby facility. According to bystander Koibuga Remdi, the crocodile maintained its grip on the worker for approximately an hour while crowds gathered outside the enclosure.
Weapons, Gunfire, and Hospitalization
Another employee entered the enclosure to assist, attempting to hit the predator on the head with a club, while a bystander extended a pole through the fence to offer leverage. Security guards reportedly provided a small iron rod to the trapped man before emergency services arrived.
Police officers and St. John’s Ambulance personnel responded to the scene. According to Mr. Remdi, officers were forced to discharge multiple rounds from their firearms to neutralize the reptile.
“It did not die from the first shot,” Mr. Remdi said. “Police had to fire multiple rounds, and it was only after the eleventh shot that the crocodile finally died.”
Once the animal was subdued, workers pumped water out of the pond to extract the victim.
Facility Closure and Safety Scrutiny
The handler had been employed at Adventure Park for approximately two years. Following the fatal incident, management closed the facility indefinitely as staff gathered to mourn at a local funeral home.
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Social media footage circulating after the incident showed staff members participating in close-contact interactions with the park’s crocodiles during previous demonstrations, including splashing water near the animals’ snouts, sitting on their backs, and touching their noses directly in front of their jaws.
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