Crocodile Mauls 8-Year-Old Boy to Death in Front of His Parents Before Dragging Him Into River

A crocodile ripped off a boy's head in front of his parents in Costa Rica in late October, it was reported earlier this week. The 8-year-old boy was playing along the Matina River with his family near their home in the city of Limon when the crocodile attack occurred.

The large reptile mauled to death the boy and ripped him into pieces before dragging his body into the depths of the water.

Details of the October 30 crocodile attacks emerged again after the boy's body parts was found inside the stomach of the beast, who was killed by a hunter on November 26. Costa Rica media reporting indicates that locals believe the remains belong to the young victim.

Despite the discovery, the incident highlights weight of balance between the conservation or killing of the wild animals in the country.

Costa Rica Crocodile Attack

The Costa Rica crocodile attack victim named, Julio Otero Fernandez, 8, was only standing in knee-deep water in the Matina River when the large crocodile suddenly appeared out of nowhere and lunged at him at around 2 p.m. on October 30, as cited by the New York Post. The boy's family reportedly watched in horror and felt helpless when the freshwater creature decapitated Julio.

While the victim was evidently playing in crocodile territory, the search to kill the animal still transpired. This led to an unidentified hunter to shot and kill the crocodile in the area, where locals cut open the beast's stomach and discovered strands of hair and bone fragments.

Crocodile Killing Backlash

The crocodile killing and discovery of what appears to be the Julio's remain came into fruition after a month of waiting for officials to find the victim. Instead, local residents took matters by themselves and formed a hunting party during the said November 26 weekend.

The locals then placed the child's bones and scalp in a plastic bag after contacting local authorities from the Office of Judicial Investigations. Yet, social media in Costa Rica criticized the government's perceived lack of action towards finding the crocodile and the boy, according to The Tico Times, a Costa Rica-based media organization.

Amid the criticism, the Costa Rica media outlet said the government stated "bad weather" hindered the search operation for the boy and the crocodile following the incident.

Increasing Crocodile Attacks

Multiple studies collated by the academic research database Research Gate said that crocodile attacks in Costa Rica have increased significantly between 1990 and 2017. Most of the victims involve either swimming or fishing in the water, which is reported to be the habitat of crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) and caimans (Caiman crocodilus).

Just like other related alligator and crocodile attacks, wildlife experts assert that fatal attacks on humans are rare. Yet, these wild animals are territorial and predatory by nature, which even lead to unprovoked attacks.