The US National Parks Service has issued a public caution after a man was bitten by a crocodile in a Florida National Park. The incident comes just weeks after we reported on hikers who made their children pose for a photo with an alligator in the same park.
The incident occurred on Sunday, according to a news release, when National Park Service rangers received a report of a crocodile attack at 4:43 p.m. in Everglades National Park. A 68-year-old man had capsized his recreational sailboat in the Flamingo Marina Basin and was observed attempting to swim ashore while towing his boat when witnesses saw him being pulled under the water.
Rangers responded immediately and discovered the man had been bitten in the leg. He was reportedly airlifted to hospital where he is recovering from the incident and believed to be in a stable condition.
The incident is being investigated by park officials and biologists who say they are monitoring the suspected crocodile, reporting that it is "easily identifiable."
The American crocodile resembles the American alligator and is a federally threatened species. Everglades National Park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist, however crocodile attacks are extremely rare. In 2014, the Guardian reported on the first crocodile attack on humans in the US, while in our article on what to do if you see an alligator in Florida, we reported that from 1948 to 2016, there were 383 recorded incidents of an alligator bite serious enough to require medical attention. That said, compared to the five million alligators in Flordia, there are just 1,000 crocodiles.
Visitors to Everglades National Park are reminded that while the park is a safe place, it is important to stay alert and practice wildlife safety. Swimming or wading is prohibited in all canals, ponds, freshwater lakes, marked channels and boat basins in the park.
