Crocodiles. The Japanese soldiers on Ramree Island during the nearing end of World War II had a dilemma that resulted in the deadliest crocodile feast ever. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site. In weak physical condition, many of the Japanese soldiers were injured and died in the swamp. Even worse, saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal and excel at taking prey in the dark. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.Thanks: Bernard Dupont What will one do when you have to face death on both ends of a road 111114. On January 26, 1945, British troops made their way to Ramree Island so that they could establish a new airbase. And as if these conditions werent bad enough, the swamps were also home to large saltwater crocodiles. The smell of blood attracted the nearby crocodiles, devoured the bodies of Japanese soldiers, and attacked the wounded Japanese soldiers left behind. Joseph Howard received a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life to save others. The story of the Ramree massacre was reported in a number of papers, but the tale is still largely apocryphal. They decided to flee. As I am writing this police are still searching for the girl. A depiction of a saltwater crocodile emerging from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island during World War II. The soldiers succumbed to the nightly menace, realizing that saltwater crocs were nocturnal and excelled at night hunting. Reconnaissance carried out on 14 January 1945, found that Japanese forces were placing artillery in caves overlooking the landing beaches on Ramree and the Royal Navy assigned the battleship HMSQueen Elizabeth, the escort carrier HMSAmeer, light cruiser HMSPhoebe, the destroyers Rapid, Napier, Norman and Pathfinder, with the sloops Flamingo and HMISKistna. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.. [20], In 2000, herpetologist Steven G. Platt visited Ramree Island, where he interviewed residents who had been alive during the war and who had been forced into slave labor by the Japanese; they "unanimously discounted any suggestion that large numbers of Japanese fell prey to crocodiles." The mangrove swamps of Ramree Island were treacherous, and the British troops already knew that. All rights reserved. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 33(2): 29-30. However this has not stopped the Guinness Book of World Records to name the incident the Most Number of Fatalities in a Crocodile Attack. A dubious distinction for a horrible event, no matter the real numbers. Deasy Tuwo, 44, was feeding croc Merry early on Friday morning at the CV. Who Were the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece? Screenshot showing the 2017 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records adding a note to the previous edition correcting information about the claim that saltwater crocodiles killed hundreds of Japanese soldiers at Ramree Island in World War II. The unit was trapped and had no way to reach the safety of the larger battalion. These Japanese troops told their captors about the crocodiles. A thousand Japanese soldiers were purportedly killed by saltwater crocodiles in the Ramree mangroves. The armor of the Pangolin is used to protect it. 0 20 2 minutes read. A SCIENTIST was eaten alive by a 17ft long crocodile after being dragged into its enclosure while she fed it last week. These crocodiles were actual predators, weighing in at over a ton and measuring up to 23 feet in length. [1][3][13] Four of them, the Siamese crocodile, broad-snouted caiman, spectacled caiman and yacare caiman, each are suspected to have been the perpetrator of a single fatal attack on a child (smaller and therefore a more likely target than an adult), although for each of these cases the identity of the species is not completely certain.[14][15][16][17]. This post will reveal the historical account of the Ramree Island Massacre. [marine launch] crews ever experienced. The following day, the 4th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier J. F. R. Forman) landed, took over the beachhead and occupied Kyaukpyu. It's the noise of hell. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Without an accurate reporting system in place, crocodile attacks in Africa are difficult to track and very few are reproduced here. (2015). Phoebe also joined the bombardment, along with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, North American B-25 Mitchells and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts of 224 Group Royal Air Force (RAF), under the command of HQ RAF Bengal and Burma, that strafed and bombed the beaches. The passage in Wrights book outlining the supposed crocodile massacre states as follows: That night was the most horrible that any member of the M. L. [motor launch] crews ever experienced. However, gasoline demand has dropped to levels not seen since the early days of the pandemic, revealing how consumers' habits are changing. [1], The two species with the most well-known and documented reputation for preying on humans are the Nile crocodile and saltwater crocodile, and these are the perpetrators of the vast majority of both fatal and non-fatal crocodilian attacks. The largest one ever officially measured was Lolong, who was a saltwater crocodile who measured 20 feet three inches long and weighed 2,370 pounds. They faced an enemy as old as the dinosaurs and just as fierce.Help support my channel - see below for details:https://www.paypal.me/markfeltonproductionhttps://www.patreon.com/markfeltonproductionsDisclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. While the US and NATO have yet to commit to sending full-size tanks, the Bradley is a potent armored vehicle for a mechanized war. Some say that British troops could hear the cries of the dying men for miles. Crocodiles are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat anything they can get their mouths on, making the Japanese soldiers the perfect prey. An accurate count of annual crocodile attacks on humans is difficult to obtain. These prehistoric holdovers can grow to over 20 feet in length and over 2,000 pounds in some cases, and although examples that size are rare, even a mid-sized crocodile of the species could easily kill a full grown adult human. Your email address will not be published. The Guinness Book of World Records listed the Ramree Island massacre as the largest crocodile attack in history, according to Wikipedia. No Japanese survived . He prides himself on uncovering the most fascinating tales of history by sharing them through any means of engaging storytelling. "[14] Subsequently, the story was incorporated into the Guinness Book of World Records as the worst animal attack ever recorded, due to Wright's statement that "[o]f about one thousand Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about twenty were found alive."[2]. Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has announced plans to divert traffic from the Clock Tower junction along Entebbe road for two months starting January 14th up to March 14th, 2023. On Feb. 25, 1945, the British newspaper The Guardian reported that Japanese stragglers who are trying to escape from Ramree Island off the west coast of Burma, are being forced by hunger out of mangrove swamps and many have been killed by crocodiles. From there, the story took on a life of its own. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Death came to them from many different sources, scorpions, disease, drowning and of course the crocodiles. In addition, saltwater crocodiles are far from a misunderstood monster. Its been dubbed one of the worst crocodile attacks in the Guinness Book of World Records. Saltwater crocodiles can weigh more than 2,000 pounds and have one of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. [8], On 7 February, the 71st Indian Infantry Brigade and supporting tanks reached the town of Ramree and encountered determined Japanese resistance. So, instead of accepting their fate, they chose to make an 8-mile journey through the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends, Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Osteological Specimens, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: St. Foy, Mindful Mixology: Making Non-Alcoholic Cocktails During Dry January With Derek Brown, Designing Immersive Gatherings With Zach Morris of Third Rail Projects, Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, How a Groundbreaking Pastry Chef Bakes Outside the Lines. [18], In 1974, journalist George Frazier reported having asked the Japanese War Office about the crocodile attack and being told that they could not confirm that it had happened. The rest were according to legend, eaten by crocodiles. Several British soldiers said that the crocodiles preyed on the Japanese soldiers in the swamp. The saltwater crocodile Cassius measures 17 feet three inches . No purchase necessary. There was a story that hundreds of people died getting slaughter by crocodiles in just one night. Since Ramree was strategically important, the Allies launched an attack in 1945 to retake the island and establish airbases to support the mainland campaign. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. The invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith. Saltwater crocodiles made a meal of the Japanese soldiers after they were bombed and strafed by the RAAF. Animal Weekis November 18 - 22, 2013 on Atlas Obscura. In both species, the mean size of crocodiles involved in nonfatal attacks was about 3m (10ft) as opposed to a reported range of 2.55m (816ft) or larger for crocodiles responsible for fatal attacks. The maneuver split the enemy group in two and isolated about 1,000 Japanese soldiers. An average saltwater crocodile can easily reach 23 feet. The Saltwater crocodiles are the most magnificent reptiles in the world. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The 4th Brigade was to keep the defenders at Yanbauk Chaung under pressure and follow up vigorously should they retire. In this official account there are references to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island. Photoshopped photo courtesy of opposingfronts.com. After just a few days, these ravenous creatures devoured more than 500 Japanese soldiers. ----------------Visit my unique travel channel on Youtube - Traveling on the Go ----------------- Here is the claim: Allied forces in the Pacific War during World War II trapped 1,000 Japanese soldiers in a mangrove swamp off the coast of Burma in the early months of 1945. The rest were reportedly eaten alive by hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles. How The Stonewall Riots Changed The Course Of The Gay Rights Movement, 9 Abandoned Airports And The Tragic Stories Behind Them, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Walking through the thick, sticky mud was slow and agonizing. It was clear that the constant dosage of blood essences was losing its effectiveness for Yue Zhong, and if he continued at his current rate of consumption, it was most . "[21], Additionally, Platt published a historiographical analysis of the allegations of the crocodile attack. This is the terrible sound Wright heard in the night. That's why it was posted online: The chewing of huge reptiles, the shouting of humans, and the sound of rifle firing were heard in the woods. But what really happened?. In Burma, the Allies faced a fierce enemy not only adept in jungle warfare and but also notorious for their suicidal kamikaze charges. A massive saltwater crocodile (via Wikimedia). An army of 1000 Japanese soldiers was decimated by saltwater crocodiles during the Battle of Ramree Island of World War II. . At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.Of about one thousand Japanese soldiers that entered the swamps of Ramree, only about twenty were found alive." The Weapons The Japanese Type 26 revolver was a beautifully executed piece of tactical trash. 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. British soldiers landing on Ramree (via Wikimedia). Find out what happened when 900 Japanese soldiers, trapped by a British landing on Ramree Island, Burma in 1945, tried to retreat through 10 miles of mangrove swamps. Can an Old Coin Solve the Mystery of a Lost Roman Emperor? The worst "mass attack" by crocodiles allegedly occurred during World War II on the night of 19 February 1945, when approximately 1000 Japanese soldiers found themselves pinned down in a mangrove swamp separating Ramree Island from the mainland of Myanmar (then Burma). Dont mess with mother nature. The Scientist Bringing Fresh Fish Back to Philadelphia's Underserved Neighborhoods, A Cottontail Quandary: Chicago's Rabbit Problem, Margarine Once Contained a Whole Lot More Whale, The Beautiful Complexity of Naming Every Living Thing, The New Zealand Birdwatchers Who Fly to North Korea in the Spring, The Love Story Behind L.A.'s Bunny Museum, The Flesh-Eating Beetles of Chicago's Field Museum, A Colossal Squid Is Hiding in New Zealand, An Emotional Visit to Vermont's Dog Chapel, Watch the Cutest Little Hummingbird on Its 3,000-Mile Migration. Difficult to obtain troops made their way to Ramree Island were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the RAAF Japanese. Not only adept in jungle warfare and but japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles notorious for their suicidal kamikaze charges bad,. He prides himself on uncovering the most japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles reptiles in the night werent bad enough, the story the! 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