Reports: Indonesian Scientist Killed by Giant 17-Foot-Long Crocodile

A crocodile rests on the banks of Tarcoles River in the province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica some 90 kilometers south of San Jose on Dec. 5, 2010. Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images

A female scientist was eaten by a giant crocodile after she fell or was pulled into an enclosure in Indonesia, according to media reports.

Deasy Tuwo, 44, reportedly was dragged into the enclosure by a 17-foot-long crocodile as she was trying to feed the animal.

She was throwing meat into the animal’s pool during feeding time on Jan. 11.

The crocodile, named Merry, was found with Tuwo’s remains in its mouth in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, reported the Daily Mail.

Officials theorized that the animal stood on his back legs and jumped up the 8-foot-tall wall and grabbed Tuwo into the enclosure.

Staff at CV Yosiki Laboratory, where the animal was being held, made the discovery later that day.

They noticed there was an unusual shape in the water before finding Tuwo’s remains, the Mail reported.

The reptile, which is generally fed meat, fish, and chicken every day, is not known to have been aggressive with humans. It, however, attacked over crocodiles.

Rescuers tried to get Tuwo’s body from the water but had difficulty doing so because the large crocodile would thrash in the water every time.

Merry was later captured before it was seen in photos strapped to a flatbed truck to be taken for medical tests to see if it had killed Tuwo, the Mail reported.

Erling Rumengan, a colleague of Tuwo’s, described the moment they discovered her body, saying she was a “quiet person” who liked to be around animals.

“We were curious when we looked at the crocodile pool, there was a floating object, it was Deasy’s body,” Rumengan said, according to the Mail.

He added: “We were afraid to touch it and we immediately report the incident at the Tombariri police station.”

“It’s possible the crocodile jumped from the side. Maybe it’s because the crocodile was still full, it didn’t finish eating her body.”

According to the Mirror, Merry Supit, a former colleague, described the animal’s feeding habits.

“The crocodile eats chicken, tuna, and meat. Everything must be fresh, he doesn’t want to eat if it’s frozen or has died a few days,” she said.

Police are trying to track down the owner of the giant crocodile, and they suspect it’s owned by a Japanese businessman.

“I believe the owner must acknowledge this horrible incident. But we have neither seen him nor know where he is,” Raswin Sirait, the Tomohon Police Chief, was quoted by the Mirror as saying.

“We also need to know if he is legally permitted to own crocodiles and other expensive aquatics in his company. If there is no permit, he will be detained,” the chief added

Other details about the case are not clear.

Largest Crocodiles

The crocodile’s species was not disclosed in media reports, but based on its size, it’s likely a saltwater or a Nile crocodile—the two largest types.

The largest crocodile ever measured, named Lolong, was “was the largest crocodile in captivity. He was also the biggest crocodile ever measured from snout-to-tail,” according to OurPlnt.

According to National Geographic in 2012, Lolong was measured at 20.24 feet and was captured in the Philippines.

The animal is suspected in the killings of at least two people.

“I didn’t expect to ever see a crocodile greater than 20 feet long in my lifetime, not an experience I will forget easily,” said Adam Britton, a zoologist who measured the animal.

Lolong died in 2013, the Telegraph reported, adding that the town of Bunawan in the Philippines was going to preserve its remains in a museum to keep tourists coming there.