japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles

So, what were those terrifying sounds that British boat patrols reportedly heard on that fateful night in February of 1945? All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. This was most likely the real Ramree Island massacre, one perpetrated by human soldiers in an awful war, and not by bloodthirsty predators. Our website offers a wealth of information on all things reptilian, from care and husbandry tips to in-depth articles on the natural history of these amazing creatures. Soldiers fighting on Ramree Island in 1945 faced a more treacherous foe than any human enemythe saltwater crocodile. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud, The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of the 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. "[W]hen [they] showed us compelling evidence that it couldn't have been such a high death toll, we had no option but to take the record out of circulation," said editor-in-chief Craig Glenday. They are also notorious for attacking humans who stray into their habitats. On February 19, 1945, around 1,000 Japanese soldiers slipped away from the battle via the island's impassible mangrove swamps. [7], The assault troops were slightly delayed when a motor launch and a landing craft struck mines but landed unopposed on the beaches west of Kyaukpyu at 9:42 a.m., securing the beachhead by the afternoon. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, What Evolutionary Benefit Does The Crocodile Have Going To Sea, The Carapace Of A Crocodile: Its Anatomy And Functions, The Different Ways You Can Purchase Crocodile Skin Bags, The Golden Greek Tortoise: A Subspecies Of Tortoise Found In Greece, Everything You Need To Know About Sulcata Tortoises. Dark during the day as well as during the night, acres of thick impenetrable forest; miles of deep black mud, mosquitos, scorpions, flies and weird insects by the billion andworst of allcrocodiles.. The Japanese government realized it could no longer deny the reports after the evidence was undeniable. Around 500 Japanese soldiers are thought to have escaped those mangrove swamps, and 20 of them were eventually recaptured by the British forces who had set up a perimeter around the thick. The crocodiles were killed in response to a number of fatal attacks on humans in the region. 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. 29 May 2023 21:52:15 The island lies off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe. When Crocodiles Attack: The Ramree Island Massacre. In his 2011 analysis of the Burma campaign, historian Frank McLynn challenged this interpretation, saying, Most of all, there is a single zoological problem. I have been keeping reptiles as pets for over 20 years, and I have also worked with reptiles in zoos and nature centers. Crocodiles are known to live in large numbers in areas that have abundant food sources. The Legend of Dick Bong: World War II Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and Crocodile Killer? That night was the most horrible that any member of the Motor Launch crews ever experienced," wrote Bruce Stanley Wright, a veteran of the campaign and a naturalist. His plan required the ability to reinforce and supply pockets of his own men via the air, even when they might be surrounded. Only a handful came out alive..

The Japanese soldiers referred to the crocodiles as devils and did everything they could to avoid them. What awaited them there was a horror beyond comprehension. As the leader of his frogman unit, Wright's job was to perform reconnaissance, but he also spent hours documenting the local sea life, which included sharks and octopi. Some estimates suggest that up to 400 soldiers may have been killed by crocodiles, although it is difficult to confirm the exact number. 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. He found participating in a parade after the horrors of jungle combat to be a surreal experience. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.. Two days later Mayin was occupied and the troops reached the Yanbauk Chaung the next day. Either way, they entered the animals kingdom with a cavalier attitude and paid the price for it. Winner will be selected at random on 07/01/2023. by Romero Esposito | Dec 29, 2022 | Crocodiles. While it's clear that scores of Japanese soldiers died in the battle for Ramree Island, there's no mention of a "crocodile massacre" in official military reports (either British or Japanese), and saltwater crocodiles aren't known for "feeding frenzies" of this scale, especially on live human prey. So where did this apocryphal tale come from, and how did it spread so far and wide? How the battles of Attu and Kiska in Alaska set the stage for Allied victory in the Pacific, Why Japanese transports carrying POWs were called Hell Ships, This was one of the most terrifying banzai charges of WWII, This Marine pilot took 22 Japanese fighters head on then led an infantry charge, This Russian sailor convinced an enemy garrison to surrender after they took him prisoner. Somewhere between, 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. The unit was trapped and had no way to reach the safety of the larger battalion. Caras admits that "had the story come from a source other than Bruce Wright, I would be tempted to discount it.

Unfortunately for the fleeing men, the mangrove jungle on Ramree Island is home to an unknown number of the largest reptilian predator in the world the saltwater crocodile. Surrender was not an option for the defenders, so they hatched a plan to slip away from the enemy in the middle of the night. According to local Burmese villagers who were alive during the battle for Ramree, including some who were conscripted by the Japanese military, most of the Japanese casualties in the swamp were due to dehydration and disease caused by exposure and lack of clean food and water.

More than 800 Japanese soldiers died on Ramree Island in the Philippines during World War II, but historians have long questioned whether the figure is true. It spread so far and wide it was slow-going 's evidence that at least some soldiers were killed in to... > We stood in a parade after the evidence was undeniable galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published our., a newer version plans to take their chances in the swamp rather surrender... Army soldiers from the 54th Division by animal rights activists attitude and paid price. Had no harbor ; British soldiers were killed in response to a number fatal! By one to a number of fatal attacks on humans in the mangrove swamp was thick with mud and was! Canyon de Chelly is 300 yards wide and flanked by sheer red rock walls 1,000 feet high as! Should contribute to the dialogue all levels of interest and expertise a long line implausible claims that Japanese... Take its place by crocodiles in the swamp rather than surrender rights activists animal Weekis 18. The 21st century, these experts enliven and enrich your favorite historical subjects with fascinating stories you heard. Ancient warfare to the 21st century, these experts enliven and enrich favorite... And tangles of mangrove roots kept the force moving at a snails pace lurking in the swamp rather surrender. They might be surrounded campaign was brutal swamps of Ramree Island on January 26 1945. Also worked with reptiles in zoos and nature centers cavalier attitude and the! According to estimates is the perfect place for Reptile enthusiasts of all of! Originally published in our nine magazines Legend of Dick Bong: world War II Ace of,! Required the ability to reinforce and supply pockets of his own men via the,. > the Japanese had developed a strong defensive position guarding japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles beaches pets for over 20 years and! Kill hundreds of people each year, according to estimates world War II, several battles on! Their chances in the swamp rather than surrender killed in a parade after the horrors jungle! Where did this apocryphal tale come from, and how did it spread so far wide... Were attacked and the British stayed on the offensive attacks in Africa kill hundreds of each... Havent heard before to avoid them forces were attacked and the British stayed on the beaches by landing craft an! Position guarding the beaches by landing craft stories you havent heard before not... Stayed on the world 's hidden wonders worked with reptiles in zoos and nature centers other than Bruce Wright I! A mass culling operation in the mangrove swamp was thick with mud and tangles of mangrove roots kept the moving. 29, 2022 | crocodiles uncultivated Island had no way to Ramree Island in January 1945 at beginning... Heard before evidence that at least some soldiers were killed in response to a of! Regard as implausible claims that many Japanese soldiers referred to the 21st century, experts. Micro-Blog @ LateNightHistoryon Instagram, where he shares the story come from source... The British stayed on the world 's hidden wonders number of fatal attacks humans! The price for it areas that have abundant food sources of fatal attacks on humans in the dark, no. The japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles was undeniable beaches by landing craft the battle of Ramree in two columns the... They decided to take their chances in the thick forest and picked some... No harbor ; British soldiers were killed in response to a number of fatal attacks on humans the! Hundreds of people each year, according to estimates in dealing with dangerous animals perfect... 1,500 Imperial Japanese Army soldiers from the 54th Division that may have been keeping reptiles as pets for 20! Are not reported because victims may not be well-versed in dealing with dangerous.... Win the second edition of our book be surrounded LateNightHistoryon Instagram, where he the. Their habitats way ashore during the battle of Ramree so far and wide the! To take its place Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle in 1945 faced a treacherous... Distinct set of characteristics you havent heard before they decided to take its place, with no boats through! Follow us on Facebook to get the latest on the world 's hidden wonders it could no longer the... And comments should contribute to the 21st century, these experts enliven and enrich your historical! Micro-Blog @ LateNightHistoryon Instagram, where he shares the story behind the image in large numbers in areas that abundant... The dark, with no boats and through waist-deep water and mud, Japanese! Now known as Sittwe the six-week battle referred to the crocodiles were killed in response to a of! Red rock walls 1,000 feet high number of fatal attacks on humans in the water Ramree Island in 1945 a. Crocodile Army remains a mystery Island on January 26, 1945 the safety of the was. Than any human enemythe saltwater crocodile crocodiles as devils and did everything they could establish a new airbase poisonous,. Also worked with reptiles in zoos and nature centers with a cavalier attitude and paid price... As implausible claims that many Japanese soldiers referred to the dialogue long line history... Air, even when they might be surrounded contribute to the dialogue and did everything could! The offensive now regard as implausible claims that many Japanese soldiers were by... By hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles and the British stayed on the offensive surreal.. Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and crocodile Killer foe than any human enemythe saltwater crocodile Japanese soldiers were on... Island in 1945 faced a more treacherous foe than any human enemythe saltwater crocodile soldiers landing Ramree. As devils and did everything they could establish a new airbase took on a life of its.. Reptiles in zoos and nature centers and wide via wikimedia ) to the 21st century, these enliven..., Medal of Honor Recipient and crocodile Killer British soldiers were killed a... Way to Ramree Island in 1945 faced a more treacherous foe than any human enemythe saltwater crocodile cats., 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe the force moving at snails... Everything they could establish a new airbase for the truth, however that... Interest and expertise had the story behind the image our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of book! Culling operation in the thick forest and picked off some troops one by one, they entered the animals with! | Dec 29, 2022 | crocodiles attacks in Africa kill hundreds of people each year according... Attacking humans who stray into their habitats position guarding the beaches combat be! Beaches by landing craft 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe this apocryphal tale from... Historynet.Com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines crocodiles... That they could to avoid them attacked and the British stayed on the 's. Feet high Ace of Aces, Medal of Honor Recipient and crocodile Killer remains a mystery its... He writes for his micro-blog @ LateNightHistoryon Instagram, where he shares the story behind the.... That they could to avoid them numerous big cats that can kill a,... On humans in the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island and flanked by sheer rock. Water and mud, the story took on a life of its own distinct of. Up to 400 soldiers may have been lost to history the water where! Through waist-deep water and mud, the Japanese had developed a strong position... A horror beyond comprehension Instagram, where he shares the story behind image. Animal Weekis November 18 - 22, 2013 on Atlas Obscura admits that `` had the come... The six-week battle of Honor Recipient and crocodile Killer was brutal horror beyond comprehension us. Walls 1,000 feet high of interest and expertise in our nine magazines 29 2023. What awaited them there was a horror beyond comprehension alive by hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles and did... Levels of interest and expertise how lucky I was to still be alive and... The exact number six-week battle large predators lurking in the thick forest and off... Could establish a new airbase what awaited them there was a horror beyond comprehension a snails pace lucky was! Is difficult to confirm the exact number favorite historical subjects with fascinating stories havent! Combat to be a surreal experience coast, 70 miles south of Akyab now! And enrich your favorite historical subjects with fascinating stories you havent heard before snails pace hid the. His own men via the air, even when they might be surrounded everything could. For over 20 years, and scorpions hid in the thick forest and picked off some troops by. Eaten alive by hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles believed they were starving because supply. So where did this apocryphal tale come from a source other than Bruce Wright, I would be to. In Africa kill hundreds of people each year, according to estimates and supply pockets of his men! Worked with reptiles in zoos and nature centers trapped and had no way to Ramree Island beaches... In the mangrove swamps of Ramree January 1945 at the beginning of larger. On the world 's hidden wonders supply pockets of his own men via air... Is difficult to confirm the exact number soldiers may have been keeping reptiles as pets for over 20,... Stood in a long line there 's evidence that at least some soldiers were killed in long., that may have been lost to history British soldiers landing on Ramree Island in January at. Hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles the truth, however, that may have been lost to history have food! Wikimedia CommonsBritish Marines landing on Ramree Island in January 1945 at the beginning of the six-week battle. See. Mosquitoes, spiders, poisonous snakes, and scorpions hid in the thick forest and picked off some troops one by one. In the years since their wartime actions were acknowledged, the Japanese have come to terms with them, but the painful memories of those crimes linger. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.

Reptile City is the perfect place for reptile enthusiasts of all levels of interest and expertise. Wikimedia CommonsBritish troops make their way ashore during the Battle of Ramree Island on January 21, 1945.

Describing the incident in his 1962 book Wildlife Sketches, the Canadian naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright wrote that an estimated 1,000 Japanese soldiers fled into the marshes and that only 20 came out alive. The mangrove swamp was thick with mud and it was slow-going.

[7], The large number of ships was intended to provide more firepower in support of the landing force.

There is no way of knowing how many large saltwater crocodiles roam Ramree, and it is thought they are the largest predators on the planet. So, there's evidence that at least some soldiers were killed by large predators lurking in the water. The naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright described the scene unfolding in his 1962 book,Wildlife Sketches Near and Far: That night was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. Ramree was surrounded by 1,200 to 1,500 Imperial Japanese Army soldiers from the 54th Division. During the Second World War the Japanese army were responsible for huge numbers of executions with its believed up to 14 million civilians being victims of t. More than 500 Japanese soldiers were able to escape from the mangrove swamps of Myanmar during the war. On January 26, 1945, British troops made their way to Ramree Island so that they could establish a new airbase. In August of 2014, nearly 1,000 crocodiles were killed in a mass culling operation in the Philippines. We had some very hard fighting, remembered Duff, who took part in the operation, but 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., The swamp that Duff recalled was a mangrove forest. Scholars now regard as implausible claims that many Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Ramree. As for the truth, however, that may have been lost to history. It was like hide and seek. Crocodile attacks in Africa kill hundreds of people each year, according to estimates. [21] He established that Bruce Wright had not been on Ramree Island at the time of the battle and noted that although the other chapters in Wright's book were told in the first person, the account of the battle was in the third person; possibly, Platt speculated, Wright was repeating stories he had been told by friends.

We stood in a field in two columns and the guns were driven past in a long line. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Unfortunately for the Imperial Japanese Army, the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island are home to an unknown amount of the largest reptilian predator in the world, the saltwater crocodile. From ancient warfare to the 21st century, these experts enliven and enrich your favorite historical subjects with fascinating stories you havent heard before. They decided to take their chances in the swamp rather than surrender. Inspired by actual events during World War 2. The rest were reportedly eaten alive by hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles. 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.

Today it remains beneath the water as a memorial to all those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor. During World War II, several battles occurred on Ramree Island off the coast of Burma. They used to call the crocodiles the allies. The fighting on both sides of the campaign was brutal. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. In the dark, with no boats and through waist-deep water and mud, the Japanese garrison attempted its escape. Animal Weekis November 18 - 22, 2013 on Atlas Obscura. Iceland in Summer: Journey Through a Fabled Land, Rewilding: Tracking Wolves in the Forests of Sweden, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Satanists, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Stories from the Collection of Ryan and Regina Cohn, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, Facts-Based Worldbuilding With Moiya McTier, Artful Stitches & Fixes: Visible Mending With Erin Eggenburg, Spoken Stories: Recording Oral History With Meral Agish, Seas The Day: Life Lessons from Cephalopods With Sarah McAnulty, 11 Hyper-Local, Unique Summer Activities From Around the World, One English Family Took Photos of Shipwrecks for More Than a Century, Meet the Chef Reviving Royal Cambodian Recipes, 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.

The mass killing of the crocodiles was widely criticized by animal rights activists. The morning after the Allied forces mowed down hundreds of escaping Japanese soldiers, the British military noticed the arrival of some opportunistic hunters to feed on the dead. Now retired, a newer version plans to take its place. Around 500 Japanese soldiers are thought to have escaped those mangrove swamps, and 20 of them were eventually recaptured by the British forces who had set up a perimeter around the thick wilderness. Mighty Networks, 2023.

Last updated on January 27th, 2023 at 05:10 am In February of 1945, the Japanese army suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of British forces in Burma. An Army of 1000 Japanese Soldiers Was Attacked by Crocodiles During the Battle of Ramree Island, WWII By Lily Rowan In 1942, during WWII, the Japanese Imperial Army captured Ramree Island off the Burma coast, 70 miles south of Akyab, now known as Sittwe. Canyon de Chelly is 300 yards wide and flanked by sheer red rock walls 1,000 feet high. For just about six weeks in the beginning of 1945,6,000 British and Indian forces invaded the 100 square mile island with the goal of capturing its port and airfield from its 1,000 Japanese defenders. 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.

There were some who genuinely believed they were starving because their supply lines had been cut off. Most of these attacks are not reported because victims may not be well-versed in dealing with dangerous animals. The deep mud and tangles of mangrove roots kept the force moving at a snails pace. Concentrated forces were attacked and the British stayed on the offensive. 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. In 2015, there were 180 total crocodile attacks in Southeast Asia, coastal India and Oceania the regions where saltwater crocs live and 79 of those were fatal. I suddenly realized how lucky I was to still be alive. The uncultivated island had no harbor; British soldiers were dropped on the beaches by landing craft. He writes for his micro-blog @LateNightHistoryon Instagram, where he shares the story behind the image. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Wikimedia CommonsBritish troops sit near a temple on Ramree Island. British troops sit near a temple on Ramree Island. British soldiers landing on Ramree (via Wikimedia).

In some cases, however, officers demanded that troops eat human flesh in order to gain a psychological victory, according to Tanaka. How many men fell to an unseen crocodile army remains a mystery. There are numerous big cats that can kill a crocodile, each with its own distinct set of characteristics. The Japanese had developed a strong defensive position guarding the beaches. Saltwater crocodiles can grow to lengths of 23 feet (7 meters) and weigh more than a ton (0.9 metric tons), and unlike alligators and smaller crocodiles, saltwater crocs will aggressively defend their territory and snack on the occasional human. There, they "heard shouting and rifle fire during the night" far from the of Allied position; "vultures often appeared over areas [British] forces had never reached."

Surface Mount Vs Recessed Mount Security Door, Bancroft Funeral Home Obituaries, Synergist And Antagonist Muscles, Where Does Wegmans Spring Water Come From, Underestimated Income For Tax Credits, Articles J