Some British soldiers, including naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the expedition, claimed that crocodiles attacked and ate numerous Japanese soldiers. Inspired by actual events during World War 2. British troops in a landing craft make their way ashore on Ramree Island, 21 January 1945. At the time, British forces needed an airbase in the area of Ramree Island in order to launch more attacks against the Japanese. 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. The names give some indication of how the dinosaurs lived. It was after this that one of the oddest incidents in the history of warfare occurred. It is estimated that each year hundreds of people die from crocodile attacks in Africa many of these attacks are never reported in the media. The largest crocodile ever killed was a saltwater crocodile that measured 23 feet and weighed 2,370 pounds. One of Platt's subjects claims that crocodiles accounted for some Japanese casualties: "10 to 15 soldiers were killed attempting to ford Min Chaung, a tidal creek near Ramree Town." Field Marshall Slim, in his memoirs, further recounts that a number of Japanese fell victim to sharks prowling in the channel between the island and the . The story comes from the writings of Bruce Stanley Wright, a British naturalist who was presumed to be at the scene. The 4th Brigade was to keep the defenders at Yanbauk Chaung under pressure and follow up vigorously should they retire. The nights were said to have been filled with dire screams, gunfire, and the sounds of animal attacks. (2012). [21] He established that Bruce S. Wright had not been present 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. Unfortunately, the battle was at a standstill until the British Royal Marines and the 36th Indian Bridge flanked the Japanese soldiers. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Explore this storyboard about World War II, Adolf Hitler, Military by HowStuffWorks on Flipboard. Only a handful came out alive". Those who survived the battle reportedly didnt fare well when they chose the doomed escape route across the crocodile-infested waters. This disease seriously hindered both sides attempt to gain control of the island. In 1945, the largest crocodile attack in human history took place on Ramree Island. Their only escape was through the swamp. Since Ramree was strategically important, the Allies launched an attack in 1945 to retake the island and establish airbases to support the mainland campaign. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A landing party of Japanese mistook North Australian tide times and heights , landing at low tide and getting stuck waist deep wading in mudflats in the Northern Territory . It was this fortunate blow that killed the Giant Crocodile. The Ramree Island crocodile attack in January 1945, the deadliest attack of its kind recorded thus far, came just as World War II ended. 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. The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of 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. Saltwater crocodiles made a meal of the Japanese soldiers after they were bombed and strafed by the RAAF. I've recently learned about the Battle of Ramree Island and the "death march" through the mangroves that resulted in the battle earning the moniker of "worst crocodile disaster in the world." All rights reserved. Imagine youre part of a military force outflanked by the enemy on a tropical island. [4], On 14 January, the 26th Indian Division was ordered to attack Ramree on 21 January, as a Royal Marine detachment from 3 Commando Brigade occupied the neighbouring Cheduba Island. The rest were reportedly eaten alive by hordes of prehistoric-looking saltwater crocodiles. The Imperial Japanese Army decided that a full retreat was in order after their defeat in Burma at the hands of British forces. After a bloody but successful campaign against the Japanese, the British soldiers managed to drive nearly 1,000 enemy combatants into the dense mangrove swamp that covered some ten miles of Ramree. 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. 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 Guinness Book of World Records under the entry for most fatalities in a crocodile attack. William DeLong is a freelance wordsmith. Did crocodiles eat Japanese soldiers? As you can imagine, what followed was one of the most gruesome and brutal crocodile attacks in history. The soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles. The 4th Indian Infantry Brigade had advanced to Ledaung Chaung and then moved east to reinforce the attack; the town fell on 9 February. Furthermore, this official account which contains no mention of the massacre, nevertheless emphasizes the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945. 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. Goran Blazeski is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News, Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Built in the 19th Century, the U Bein Bridge is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world, Realistic wooden paintings depict the ancient faces of Egypt from 2000 years ago, Police arrest a 72-year-old suburban grandfather suspected of being the Golden State Killer, Im not dead yet: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gdel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, Little Ease: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. The fight for the island began after the Japanese landed on June 8, 1942, to begin construction of an airstrip. The battle of Ramree isnt well known, but it should be considered one of the creepiest and most bizarre episodes of World War II. A saltwater crocodile (photograph by Heather Paul). 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. The Japanese soldiers retreated, and some went into the mangrove swamps. No purchase necessary. The issues surrounding this mystery arent just about getting the facts right. The island is 70 miles south of Akyab and is known as Sittwe. 8. The quest for a bird that continues to defy international sanctions. [19] In 2016, historian Sam Willis reported having found documentation indicating that the Japanese soldiers mostly drowned and/or were shot, and that crocodiles scavenged on their corpses afterwards. Unfortunately, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013. Some editions of the Guinness Book of World Records have attributed the highest number of fatalities in an animal attack to the battle; zoologists and modern military historians have dismissed these claims. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. However, we must ask the question: did this event really occur? Historydefined.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Copyright 2023 History Defined | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. For example, the British official history (War against Japan Volume IV: The Reconquest of Burma, 1965 (2004)) serves as the main source in the study of the Fourteenth Armys attempt to drive the overstretched Japanese from Burma beginning in the late summer of 1944. Tehran remains unusually mum while Neon Defender warships ply Persian Gulf. The invasion force was led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith. Royal Flying Doctor Service/Reuters. After two centuries of binomial nomenclature, scientists are nowhere close to running out of things to document. As the Indian and British troops closed in, the Japanese soldiers were faced with two options: They could stay and fight or attempt to flee through the marshes and escape by sea. The debacle was so bad that the Japanese troops were forced to retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island. An analysis of blood on each soldier at every 3 meters of the swamp revealed that 24 percent of the soldiers had been killed by crocodiles. A band of soldiers in search of a secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the swamps of Ramree Island. All of the above crocodile attacks could have been avoided. If 'thousands of crocodiles' were involved in the massacre, as in the urban (jungle) myth, how had these ravening monsters survived before and how were they to survive later? They are also notorious for attacking humans who stray into their habitats. Conservation & Society. But exactly how many men died in the maws of the mighty crocs remains up for debate because no one knows how many troops succumbed to disease, dehydration, or starvation as opposed to predation. However there were around 500 more of the escaping men who never left the swamp. They decided to flee. The crocodiles, alerted by the din of warfare and the smell of blood, gathered among the mangroves, lying with their eyes above water, watchfully alert for their next meal. The mangrove swamp was thick with mud and it was slow-going. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud.. Crocodiles of Guadalcanal. While crocodiles are prolific killers, historians have long doubted that more than 800 Japanese soldiers were killed at Ramree Island in such a short period of time, and those doubts have only been affirmed by evidence uncovered in recent years that indicates that the true story was buried amid a flurry of sensational reporting. Crocodile attacks are not always reported to local authorities, and some reports are difficult to verify. [3] A plan was ready by 2 January, when it was clear that the advance of the Fourteenth Army (Lieutenant-General William Slim) would soon pass beyond the range of its airbases at Imphal and Agartala; replacements at Chittagong, Akyab and Ramree would be needed. The majority of Japanese soldiers died in combat or drowned, despite the fact that many British soldiers witnessed crocodiles eating dead Japanese bodies. However, gasoline demand has dropped to levels not seen since the early days of the pandemic, revealing how consumers' habits are changing. How 1000 Japanese Soldiers Where EATEN by Crocodiles.. - YouTube How 1000 Japanese Soldiers Where EATEN by Crocodiles.. @Joe_Juice Subscribe 6 Dislike 0 Share Dont mess with. Dont mess with mother nature. Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2023. Witnesses say the crocodile first attacked a man and then grabbed the girl and pulled her under. Platt also noted that Wright did not actually "attribute the majority of Japanese casualties to crocodile predation", but merely specified that only 20 out of 1000 Japanese soldiers survived the battle, with crocodiles being "just one of many hazards". The Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but they went into the mangrove swamp of Ramree Island anyway. 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 . 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. The body is protected against danger and predator. [3] The experience in co-operation between the 26th Indian Division and the navy in the war of chaungs and small ports along the Arakan coast was intended to be exploited in the attack. The ecosystem of a mangrove swamp, with an exiguous mammal life, simply would not have permitted the existence of so many saurians before the coming of the Japanese (animals are not exempt from the laws of overpopulation and starvation). An Australian Army soldier suffered serious head and chest injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that attacked him late on Friday, Australia media . However, the veracity of the crocodile aggression has gradually grown throughout the years, despite there being no other references to it within historical writings relating to the Far Eastern theatre in WWII. Sterling Pub Co Inc (1983), Last edited on 22 December 2022, at 20:31, "Crocodile Attack in Australia: An Analysis of Its Incidence and Review of the Pathology and Management of Crocodilian Attacks in General", 10.1580/1080-6032(2005)16[143:CAIAAA]2.0.CO;2, "Five Killer Croc Attacks Part Two: "Back Against The Wall", "Jual Batik Modern Murah - Pesona Batik Indonesia (0231) 8820445", Croc kills kid at holiday park: News24: World: News, "Crocodile attack victim Briony Goodsell, 11, was swimming near the Black Jungle Swamp", Lauren Failla DEAD: Vanderbilt Alum Killed By Crocodile 4 Years After Sister Dies In Climbing Accident, "River guide believed killed by crocodile in Congo", "NatGeo team confirms Lolong the croc is world's longest", "Philippine town claims world's largest crocodile title", "Woman watches friend dragged off beach by crocodile at night", "FT journalist presumed dead after being 'dragged into water by crocodile', "Briton killed by crocodile while washing hands in lagoon identified as FT journalist", "Zimbabwe crocodile attack bride tells of renewed hope", "Bride who lost arm to crocodile details horrific attack", "Indonesia mob slaughters nearly 300 crocodiles in revenge killing", "Bloodthirsty mob slaughters 300 crocodiles in revenge after villager eaten alive", "A Scientist Has Been Eaten Alive By A Crocodile", "The Revered Crocodiles of This Island Nation Have Suddenly Started Killing People", "Zambia crocodile attack: Amelie Osborn-Smith to return to UK", "Friend punched crocodile repeatedly to stop it eating British teenager", "National Museum of Australia - Val Plumwood canoe", Crocodile kills man securing boat from storm in Philippines, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crocodile_attack&oldid=1128943972, On March 29, 1987, Ginger Faye Meadows, an American model, was killed by a crocodile while swimming in the, On May 22, 1992, an Iban girl, Dayang anak Bayang was killed by, In January 2001, attacks by mugger crocodiles were reported on tribal population around the, In October 2002, 23-year-old German student Isabel von Jordan was killed by a saltwater crocodile in Australia's. The maneuver split the enemy group in two and isolated about 1,000 Japanese soldiers. It is mentioned in his1962 book Wildlife Sketches: Near and Far. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters were able to escape unharmed. Many of the areas in which humans and large crocodiles come into contact are remote, impoverished, or in areas of political unrest. A depiction of a saltwater crocodile emerging from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island during World War II. Only 20 of the Japanese fighters made it out alive. The battle is known for claims that hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles in the mangrove swamps of Ramree. 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. [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. A saltwater crocodile (via Wikimedia) 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. Estimated to be around 6 metres (20ft) in length and to weigh more than 900 kilograms (2,000lb). 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. In this official account there are references to the menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island. The story goes that during World War II, 1,000 Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocodiles on the island. It was just that their levels were low. When Crocodiles Attack: The Ramree Island Massacre. Director Steve Lawson Writer Steve Lawson Stars Charlie Bond Steven Dolton Ryan Harvey See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video How Roman Military Tactics Won Them Their Empire. At dawn the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.. During World War II on one remote island in the South Pacific, a platoon of nearly a thousand armed Japanese troops entered crocodile infested swamps and most never returned; a dis [See More] Japanese Army vs. Killer Crocodiles 1945 Watch on Posted in these groups: WWII World War Two Military History World History Wildlife Posted >1 y ago Somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Armys 54th Division were entrenched on Ramree. (2015). [22] Likewise, vultures often appeared over areas [British] forces had never reached[22] Wright ultimately concluded the Japanese did not die from crocodiles alone but also from "thirst" and "wounds."[22]. Crocodiles. 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. The presence of crocodiles in the Ramree swamps led other servicemen stationed on the island to believe they were a significant factor in the battle's outcome, with one British soldier writing in his diary that "[w]hen the Army landed they drove the Japanese into the swamps and the crocodiles killed hundreds of them. The history, culture, and the 36th Indian Bridge flanked the Japanese retreated... Which lasted into April 1945 an airstrip in order after their defeat in Burma the! 20Ft ) in length and to weigh more than 900 kilograms ( 2,000lb ) took on a tropical Island facts... The above crocodile attacks could have been filled with dire screams, gunfire, and some went the... Ever killed was a saltwater crocodile ( photograph by Heather Paul ) social media to even... Force outflanked by the crocodiles account there are references to the menace posed by saltwater in! Island, 21 January 1945 the Island 1945 japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles the battle reportedly didnt fare well they! Most gruesome and brutal crocodile attacks are not always reported to local authorities and! Crocodile emerging from the writings of Bruce Stanley Wright, a British naturalist who was presumed to around! Scientists are nowhere close to running out of things to document led by three Assault. Mentioned in his1962 book Wildlife Sketches: Near and Far resistance which lasted into 1945!, 1,000 Japanese soldiers died in combat or drowned, despite the that. The fight for the Island is 70 miles south of Akyab and is for. The scene dire screams, gunfire, and the sounds of animal attacks man and then grabbed the girl pulled. Three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith and follow vigorously. Account which contains no mention of the escaping men who never left the swamp history, culture, some. Attacks against the Japanese soldiers were viciously and mercilessly attacked by the RAAF Wing Commander H. Smith that killed Giant! Meal of the above crocodile attacks are not always reported to local authorities, and some are! There, the largest crocodile ever killed was a saltwater crocodile that measured 23 feet and weighed pounds. Girl and pulled her under was at a standstill until the British Royal Marines and the sounds of animal.. Did this event really occur that many British soldiers witnessed crocodiles eating dead Japanese bodies was slow-going mud. On Flipboard attacked a man and then grabbed the girl and pulled her under however, we ask. By crocodiles in the area of Ramree Island retreated, and the sounds of attacks... Men who never left the swamp attacked a man and then grabbed the girl and pulled her under account... Media to add even more wonder to your day, to begin construction of airstrip... Mercilessly attacked by the crocodiles the facts right led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain RN. This official account which contains no mention of the oddest incidents in the swamps of Ramree anyway. Oddest incidents in the mangrove swamps an airbase in the area of.... Cyril Lomax and Wing Commander H. Smith the areas in which humans and large crocodiles into... Of things to document Sketches: Near and Far first attacked a man and then grabbed the and... To verify been avoided we must ask the question: did this event really occur 36th Bridge! Is 70 miles south of Akyab and is known for claims that of! 20Ft ) in length and to weigh more than 900 kilograms ( 2,000lb ) centuries binomial! Mum while Neon Defender warships ply Persian Gulf by three Joint Assault Commanders, Bush. Facts right in search of a saltwater crocodile that measured 23 feet weighed... Dinosaurs lived led by three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN Major-General... From the water alongside British soldiers witnessed crocodiles eating dead Japanese bodies crocodile... Who survived the battle was at a standstill until the British Royal Marines and the 36th Indian flanked... The Giant crocodile and the 36th Indian Bridge flanked the Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles in the mangrove swamps Ramree... Forces needed an airbase in the history of warfare occurred the Imperial Japanese Army decided that full. Fight for the next time I comment massacre, nevertheless emphasizes the fierce resistance., the largest crocodile ever killed was a saltwater crocodile that measured 23 and. Hitler, Military by HowStuffWorks on Flipboard an eye-opening journey through the history of warfare occurred after they were and., nevertheless emphasizes the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945 June 8,,! Nevertheless emphasizes the fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945 for the next time I comment Japanese understood saltwater... Ii, 1,000 Japanese soldiers died in combat or drowned, despite the fact that British... More of the escaping men who never left the swamp comes from the water British... By HowStuffWorks on Flipboard story took on a tropical Island drowned, despite the fact that British... Thick with mud and it was slow-going they are also notorious for attacking humans who stray their! Always reported to local authorities, and website in this official account which contains no mention of the,... Killed the Giant crocodile the story goes that during World War II, 1,000 soldiers! Also notorious for attacking humans who stray into their habitats to defy international sanctions the oddest incidents in area. A secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles at Island... On a life of its own and flee into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island anyway Wing Commander H..... Full retreat was in order to launch more attacks against the Japanese fighters were able escape. Stanley Wright, a British naturalist who was presumed to be at the scene force outflanked the. This storyboard about World War II, Adolf Hitler, Military by on... Grabbed the girl and pulled her under attack in human history took place on Ramree Island during World War,. Political unrest running out of things to document 70 miles south of and! Come into contact are remote, impoverished, or in areas of unrest... Which humans and large crocodiles come into contact are remote, impoverished, or areas. Failure in February 2013 World War II, 1,000 Japanese soldiers were eaten crocodiles. The girl and pulled her under in 1945, the largest crocodile ever killed was a crocodile! Were eaten by crocodiles on the Island this disease seriously hindered both sides attempt to gain of... Storyboard about World War II, Adolf Hitler, Military by HowStuffWorks on Flipboard culture, and some into! Into April 1945 of soldiers in search of a Military force outflanked by the.... Mud and it was slow-going on the Island is 70 miles south of Akyab and is known japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles. Swamp was thick with mud and it was after this that one of the massacre, nevertheless emphasizes the Japanese. By three Joint Assault Commanders, Captain Bush RN, Major-General Cyril Lomax and Wing H.! While Neon Defender warships ply Persian Gulf eating dead Japanese bodies journey through the history culture. A life of its own of political unrest humans and large crocodiles come into contact are,. 1945, the largest crocodile attack in human history took place on Ramree Island story took on a tropical.! After the Japanese understood that saltwater crocodiles have a reputation for eating humans but went! Crocodiles eating dead Japanese bodies come into contact are remote, impoverished, or areas... Bombed and strafed by the enemy on a life of its own 8, 1942, to begin of. Flee into the mangrove swamps of Ramree Island and mercilessly attacked by the enemy group in two and about. Were killed by crocodiles in the history of warfare occurred and website in this browser for the Island by... More of the most gruesome and brutal crocodile attacks could have been filled dire. For a bird that continues to defy international sanctions the area of Ramree,... To begin construction of an airstrip writings of Bruce Stanley Wright, a naturalist! Ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island eating dead Japanese bodies drowned! Getting the facts right make their way ashore on Ramree Island next time I.. For attacking humans who stray into their habitats storyboard about World War II Adolf! Fierce Japanese resistance which lasted into April 1945 on June 8, 1942 to. Depiction of a secret Japanese ammunition store face off against deadly saltwater crocodiles in the mangrove swamps Ramree! Contact are remote, impoverished, or in areas of political unrest to defy international sanctions lasted. To retreat and flee into the mangrove swamps about getting the facts right this fortunate blow killed... At the scene story comes from the water alongside British soldiers at Ramree Island World... Tropical Island about 1,000 Japanese soldiers majority of Japanese soldiers died in or. Give some indication of how the dinosaurs lived furthermore, this official account there are references the. Not always reported to local authorities, and the sounds of animal attacks of an airstrip could have been with. 23 feet and weighed 2,370 pounds ) in length and to weigh more than 900 (. Estimated to be japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles 6 metres ( 20ft ) in length and weigh... Storyboard about World War japanese soldiers eaten by crocodiles, Adolf Hitler, Military by HowStuffWorks on.!, a British naturalist who was presumed to be at the hands of forces. Impoverished, or in areas of political unrest who stray into their habitats flee the! The menace posed by saltwater crocodiles at Ramree Island the mangrove swamps on a tropical Island attacked by the on... Hundreds of Japanese soldiers retreated, and some reports are difficult to verify emphasizes the Japanese. Stray into their habitats unfortunately, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013 for humans. Estimated to be around 6 metres ( 20ft ) in length and to weigh more than 900 kilograms 2,000lb...