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Nature and Environment

Croc bites French tourist posing for selfie

January 2, 2017

A French woman was injured by a wild crocodile while visiting a national park in Thailand. The tourist, who had been hoping to take a snapshot of herself with the animal, allegedly squatted next it.

https://p.dw.com/p/2V9Cj
Thailand Siam-Krokodil
Siamese crocodiles were once widespread across South East AsiaImage: picture alliance/blickwinkel/P. Espeel

The visitor went off the trail despite warning signs, local media reported in Monday.

"She wanted to take selfie with the crocodile who was lying down near a stream," a park official told the AFP news agency.

The incident took place in Khao Yai, the national park known for its dense jungle areas and waterfalls, located some 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Bangkok. The staff knew that two Siamese crocodiles were living near one of the trails prompting the officials to lay out the warning signs in English and Thai.

'It was startled'

According to a report by Bangkok Post, the woman squatted next to the crocodile for a picture, but tipped over and alerted the animal.

"It was startled and bit her on her on the leg," said the park employee, who wished to stay anonymous.

Thai outlets also published pictures of the 47-year-old woman being carried out on the stretcher, with a thick bandage around her knee.

She was transported to a hospital and expected to make a full recovery. Siamese crocodiles are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conversation of Nature, with national parks providing safe haven for few remaining populations in the wild.

dj/rc (AP, AFP)