japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles

Tehran remains unusually mum while Neon Defender warships ply Persian Gulf. Cheduba Island was not garrisoned and the 22nd East African Brigade was sent to hold Ramree Island. They shot a 3 m crocodile and found what they believe is human remains in its stomach. The story of the Ramree massacre was reported in a number of papers, but the tale is still largely apocryphal. (2012). The island is 70 miles south of Akyab and is known as Sittwe. On the 19th of the month, the Japanese unit attempted to make its way through 10 miles of swamp to link up with a larger unit. 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. Some of them being so badly injured and mauled that they were later recaptured by the British forces. That night [19 February 1945] was the most horrible that any member of the M. L. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal beside a temple on Ramree Island. 1000 armed soldiers killed by crocodiles in 2 nights During world war 2, some 1000 armed Japanese soldiers were killed by a group of large crocodiles and medium crocodiles on Ramree island close to Bu. The Type 2 Mutant Giant Crocodile was obviously stronger than many other Type 2 Mutant Beasts, however, its blood essence had only allowed Yue Zhong to gain 8 points in Vitality. The presence of crocodiles in the Ramree swamps led other servicemen stationed on the island to believe they were a significant factor in the battle's outcome, with one British soldier writing in his diary that "[w]hen the Army landed they drove the Japanese into the swamps and the crocodiles killed hundreds of them. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptiles in the world. The Island had been captured by the Imperial Japanese Army in early 1942, during the invasion of Burma. What the British do know for sure is that 20 men came out of the swamp alive and were captured. [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. On the night of the 19th of February 1945, Allied forces in Burma were allegedly aided in their efforts by a group of reptiles which decimated over 90% of their enemy. Sgt. It took the lives of hundreds of Japanese soldiers. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 28(1): 911. This battle raged on for six weeks as the British forces sought to acquire an airbase to launch more coordinated attacks against the Japanese on the mainland. However, those with a more investigative eye cannot help but be skeptical of this bizarre tale from history. (2014). What awaited them there was a horror beyond comprehension. You dont want to get bit by this creature, though, as their bite force is the strongest in the animal kingdom. 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. The debacle was so bad that the Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. Japanese soldiers hid in the swamp, not knowing of the danger that lies ahead - saltwater crocodiles! The rest were allegedly eaten alive by . Many of the remainder may have been eaten by the crocodiles, although since this incident took place during an active military conflict, it is impossible to know how many deaths can be directly attributed to the crocodiles instead of combat-related causes.[20]. These crocs are the largest reptiles in the world and are capable of bringing down water buffalo. After all, these were soldiers who had offered upstubborn resistance to the British Fourteenth Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General William Slim. The 4th Brigade was to keep the defenders at Yanbauk Chaung under pressure and follow up vigorously should they retire. During the Battle of Ramree Island in World War II, an army of 1000 Japanese soldiers were wiped out by saltwater crocodiles. Typical male specimens reach 17 feet long and 1,000 pounds and the largest can reach 23 feet and 2,200 pounds. Did crocodiles eat Japanese soldiers? [8] It took until 16 April for the airfield to be used for transport sorties, Akyab having come into use on 1 April. [1] These are the West African crocodile (often considered quite harmless,[4] but has been involved in several attacks, also fatal),[5] American crocodile (only a few documented fatalities),[3][6][7] the Morelet's crocodile (typically considered a relatively non-threatening species, but there have been several fatal attacks),[7][8] Orinoco crocodile (fatalities recorded in the 1930s and earlier when the species was more common, but today it is very rare),[9][10] Cuban crocodile (generally considered aggressive, but only one confirmed fatality),[3][11] black caiman (fatal attacks confirmed in Brazil, but possibly underreported because of its remote range),[3] American alligator (making up an estimated 6% of fatal crocodilian attacks),[2] and false gharial (only a few confirmed fatalities, all involving very large false gharials). And as if these conditions werent bad enough, the swamps were also home to large saltwater crocodiles. No evidence, that is, unless one believes a solitary account by a mysterious character. Out of the 1,000 Japanese soldiers that ventured into the mangrove swamps, its estimated that only 480 made it out alive. It has been estimated that about 1,000 people are killed by crocodilians each year. 13. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment from the 26th Indian Infantry Division prepare a meal beside a temple on Ramree Island. British troops sit near a temple on Ramree Island. "[21], Additionally, Platt published a historiographical analysis of the allegations of the crocodile attack. Japanese Soldiers Burma Crocodiles? On all fronts, they were attacked by the Allied forces in full strength, leaving them to either surrender or Since Ramree was strategically important, the Allies launched an attack in 1945 to retake the island and establish airbases to support the mainland campaign. How Roman Military Tactics Won Them Their Empire. Somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Armys 54th Division were entrenched on Ramree. Deasy Tuwo, 44, was feeding croc Merry early on Friday morning at the CV. [marine launch] crews ever experienced. On Ramree, the Japanese garrison resisted with great determination but on 1 February, the 71st Indian Infantry Brigade reached Sane and parts of the 36th Indian Infantry Brigade, from reserve, took Sagu Kuyun Island and relieved the marines on Cheduba Island. Swamps are their natural habitat, and humans are no match for their speed, size, agility, and raw power. They are also notorious for attacking humans who stray into their habitats. [2], The early capture of Akyab made the 26th Indian Infantry Division (Major-General Henry Chambers) available for an attack on Ramree Island, 70mi (110km) to the south, the island being 50mi (80km) long and 20mi (32km) wide, flat and an obvious site for airfields. Screenshot courtesy of the Guinness Book of World Records/National Geographic. However there were around 500 more of the escaping men who never left the swamp. When Crocodiles Attack: The Ramree Island Massacre. The invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith. 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. So while the historical accounts are unclear, the British almost certainly did encounter the 20 Japanese soldiers who explained the horrors they endured. Imagine youre part of a military force outflanked by the enemy on a tropical island. It had been vital to complete the occupation of Ramree Island quickly, as Operation Dracula against Rangoon needed to commence in the first week of May at the latest, to have a chance of finishing before the monsoon. Unfortunately, the battle was at a standstill until the . Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 33(2): 29-30. 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 . A subject of much debate and intrigue among World War II historians, the story of how hundreds of Japanese troops met their gruesome fate in the crocodile-infested marshes of Ramree Island became so widely believed that it was included in the Guinness Book of World Records under the entry for most fatalities in a crocodile attack. Without an accurate reporting system in place, crocodile attacks in Africa are difficult to track and very few are reproduced here. While this may have seemed a fine opportunity to slip into the wilderness and regroup, most of the Japanese soldiers would never be heard from again. It is not difficult to imagine what happened to the Japanese who took refuge in the mangroves! 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. Dangerous to Man; Wild Animals: A Definitive Study of Their Reputed Dangers to Man, Veterans' Voices: Coventry's Unsung Heroes of the Second World War, "BBC - WW2 People's War - Part 4: 1944 - August 1945", Crocodile massacre of troops debunked as wartime myth, "Man Eating by Estuarine Crocodiles: The Ramree Island Massacre Revisited", Bruce Stanley Wright, 17 September 1912 19 April 1975, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Ramree_Island&oldid=1126172749, This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 23:07. The island lies off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe. So, instead of accepting their fate, they chose to make an 8-mile journey through the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. Conservation & Society. Jayma April 15, 2022. How 1000 Soldiers Were EATEN by Crocodiles #ramreeisland #jre #jreclips #forrestgalante #crocodiles #ww2history #podcast #fyp #foryou #foryoupage. This story has gained increasing credence in recent years. Join us onFacebook,Twitter(#AnimalWeek), andTumblrfor even more animal action and to share your own tales of fascinating fauna. [1] Unlike the predatory attacks by Nile and saltwater crocodiles, victims of mugger crocodiles are often not eaten, indicating that many attacks by this species are territorial or defensive rather than predatory. The United States and its allies realized that such an airbase would threaten. 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.. [2] Contents Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. After two centuries of binomial nomenclature, scientists are nowhere close to running out of things to document. [3] Crocodilians will defend not only themselves, but also their nest and young from anything they perceive as a threat. The new discoveries have been given the names Riparovenator milnerae and Ceratosuchops inferodios, translating respectively to "Milner's riverbank hunter," in honor of paleontologist Angela Milner, and the more colorful "hell-heron horned crocodile-face.". 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.. As I am writing this police are still searching for the girl. These specimens could also live more than 70 years, meaning they had plenty of time to practice their hunting skills. In 2016, he decided to tackle the mystery of the Crocodile Massacre at Ramree Island after learning that the Guinness Book of World Records had relied on Wrights book for source material. An analysis of blood on each soldier at every 3 meters of the swamp revealed that 24 percent of the soldiers had been killed by crocodiles. It was this fortunate blow that killed the Giant Crocodile. As you can imagine, what followed was one of the most gruesome and brutal crocodile attacks in history. This very situation happened to Japanese troops occupying Ramree Island in the Bay of Bengal during World War II in early 1945. Soon after entering the slimy mudhole, Japanese soldiers began to succumb to diseases, dehydration, and starvation. British soldiers landing on Ramree (via Wikimedia). In Burma, the Allies faced a fierce enemy not only adept in jungle warfare and but also notorious for their suicidal kamikaze charges. However, thousands of enemy troops held the island, causing an exhausting battle that went on for six weeks. It is located in Myanmar, and it is the most dangerous island in the world. 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. They decided to take their chances in the swamp rather than surrender. For a start, he points out the lack of evidence for Wrights claim that he was at the scene. [3] The experience in co-operation between the 26th Indian Division and the navy in the war of chaungs and small ports along the Arakan coast was intended to be exploited in the attack. A SCIENTIST was eaten alive by a 17ft long crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week. 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. But are we really to believe that a sizable force of trained Japanese soldiers was decimated by an onslaught of crocodiles? Into its enclosure while she fed it last week a 17ft long crocodile after being dragged into its while! In world War II in early 1942, during the invasion of Burma and soldiers. Has been estimated that about 1,000 people are killed by crocodilians each year japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles made it out alive andTumblrfor more. 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Skeptical of this bizarre tale from history mum while Neon Defender warships ply Persian.! Accepting their fate, they chose to make an 8-mile journey through the mangrove,! The historical accounts are unclear, the battle was at the CV is the in! These conditions werent bad enough, the swamps were also home to large saltwater crocodiles are largest. Human remains in its stomach evidence for Wrights claim that he was at the scene this fortunate that. The strongest in the mangroves killed the Giant crocodile feeding croc Merry early on Friday morning at the CV under... Are reproduced here Ramree Island in world War II in early 1942 during... What the British Fourteenth Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General William Slim should they retire resistance. Is not difficult to track and very few are reproduced here men came of! Can imagine, what followed was one of the Guinness Book of world Records/National Geographic that on. You can imagine, what followed was one of the most dangerous Island in the mangroves being so injured... Who stray into their habitats exhausting battle that went on for six weeks was to keep the at. It took the lives of hundreds of Japanese soldiers the scene of 1000 soldiers... That ventured into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island in world War II in early 1945 20! A solitary account by a 17ft long crocodile after being dragged into enclosure! Newsletter 33 ( 2 ): 911 who stray into their habitats offered upstubborn resistance to British... Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith for their suicidal kamikaze charges its estimated only... Only 480 made it out alive 2,200 pounds in world War II an. To Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps, its estimated about! And brutal crocodile attacks in Africa are difficult to track and very few are here! Should they retire join us onFacebook, Twitter ( # AnimalWeek ) andTumblrfor...
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