A 54-year-old grandmother named Halima Rahakbauw met a horrifying end after being attacked by a crocodile while washing dishes in the Wali River in Maluku, Indonesia. The incident occurred in the morning as she was cleaning up after preparing a meal, a routine task that tragically turned into her final moments.
Halima, a resident of a nearby village, had gone down to the river early in the morning to collect shellfish and clean dishes, according to her family members. Jamia Seknun, a relative of Halima, explained that she was afraid the river level would rise by noon, so she left home early.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., Ali Rahangmetan, a passerby, noticed a commotion in the water while crossing the Wali Bridge. Initially, he thought he saw someone swimming but quickly realized something was terribly wrong. Ali recounted the terrifying moment, saying, “I saw someone swimming, but I couldn’t see their body. Only their legs were visible. To make sure, I went out of my car and finally saw that it was a human being eaten by a crocodile. I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. Only the legs and intestines of the person were visible.”
Ali immediately contacted the local authorities, who launched an urgent search for Halima. Her family had already reported her missing when she did not return home after going to the river. The police scoured the riverbanks in a desperate attempt to find her. The search led to the capture of the female crocodile responsible for the attack. The reptile, measuring approximately 14 feet long, was discovered still in the process of consuming Halima’s body.
The authorities quickly shot and killed the crocodile, and with the help of local villagers, retrieved the remains of Halima from the predator’s stomach. Witnesses described the grisly scene, with one villager saying they saw “a leg hanging out of its mouth” when the crocodile was caught.
Indonesia is home to numerous species of crocodiles, including the saltwater crocodile, which is known for its aggressive behavior. The country’s crocodile population has been moving closer to human settlements in recent years, a trend believed to be driven by over-fishing and habitat loss. The reduced availability of natural prey has forced these dangerous reptiles to venture further inland in search of food, often leading to deadly encounters with humans.
This tragic incident is not an isolated case in Indonesia. Earlier this month, a 40-year-old Australian man named Dave Hogbin was killed by a crocodile in Far North Queensland while fishing with his family. He was dragged underwater in front of his horrified wife and children before rangers were able to track down and kill the crocodile. Similarly, in 2018, a mob in Papua butchered nearly 300 crocodiles in revenge after a local man was killed by one of the reptiles.
As Indonesia continues to develop, many locals still rely on rivers for everyday activities such as bathing, fishing, and washing, increasing their vulnerability to crocodile attacks. The country’s rural communities are particularly at risk, where safety measures and awareness about the dangers of these predators are often minimal.
The Indonesian government has been urged to implement stronger protective measures and increase awareness to prevent future attacks. However, with the continued encroachment of human activities into crocodile habitats, these incidents are likely to persist. As of now, the local authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding Halima’s death, and they are working with wildlife experts to better understand and manage the growing threat posed by crocodiles in the area.
The Wali River, once a source of life and sustenance for the village, has now become a site of unimaginable horror. For the family of Halima Rahakbauw, the tragedy is a painful reminder of the dangers that lurk beneath the surface of the river they have depended on for generations.
