Crocodile Resurfaces Three Times With Girl Before Final Fatal Disappearance on Lake Victoria
Wakiso, Uganda — A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded on the shores of Lake Victoria after a crocodile repeatedly resurfaced with a young girl in its jaws before finally disappearing with her beneath the water, eyewitnesses say.
The incident occurred in a lakeside community where the girl, believed to be around 10 years old, had gone to fetch water with friends and relatives. Residents say the crocodile emerged suddenly from the lake’s edge, seized the girl, and dragged her into the water as bystanders screamed for help.
According to locals, the crocodile resurfaced three separate times, each time still holding the girl, before vanishing into deeper waters for the final time.
Desperate Attempts to Save Her
Several fishermen rushed to the scene in a wooden canoe in hopes of rescuing the girl, but the predator’s strength and speed made intervention impossible.
“We tried to follow it, but every time it came up, it was further away,” one resident recounted. “By the time we reached closer, it had gone under again.”
Others along the shoreline threw stones and shouted in an attempt to scare the crocodile off, but the efforts did nothing to deter it.
Rising Human–Wildlife Conflict Around Lake Victoria
Communities around Lake Victoria have long struggled with increasing crocodile attacks, which wildlife experts attribute to shrinking natural habitats, overfishing, and rising lake water levels pushing the reptiles closer to human activity.
Local leaders say this latest incident is part of a worrying spike in attacks, especially on children and women who frequent the lake for domestic chores.
“We are losing too many people,” a village elder said. “The government and wildlife authorities must intervene before more lives are taken.”
Search Efforts Underway
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials were deployed to the area to search for the girl’s remains and to track and possibly capture the crocodile involved.
Rescuers say efforts are ongoing, though chances of recovering the girl alive are nonexistent.
“We sympathize deeply with the family,” a UWA ranger said. “We are working with the community to locate the body and prevent further attacks.”
Calls for Greater Protection and Awareness
Residents have renewed calls for protective measures, including fenced water access points, community awareness campaigns, and increased surveillance by wildlife authorities.
For now, the community remains grief-stricken as relatives wait along the lakeshore, hoping for the recovery of the girl’s body and for authorities to act before another tragedy strikes.
