A crocodile named Osama, which inhabited Lake Victoria was one of the deadliest man-eaters in Uganda. The vicious animal was known by the infamous terrorist Osama bin Laden's moniker. Between 1991 and 2005, the killer crocodile consumed about 83 people in the Lunganga village.
Osama, measured at around 5 meters (snout-to-tail), had become fond of eating human flesh. Based on reports, it wiped out 10% of Lunganga's population, with victims ranging from 12 years to older population.
In a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, Osama's 83rd victim was a 12-year-old boy. It was feasting on the boy's remains after it had taken to its lair on the shores of Africa's largest lake. People believed that the crocodile was charmed, if not immortal.
The 75-year-old crocodile killed people from 1991 until it was captured in 2005. Fifty people managed to capture Osama, which the Uganda Wildlife Authority led. The group used a pair of cow lungs as bait at its preferred hiding site. The lungs were loaded with a copper snare that caught the crocodile's teeth in a tight web. It ended up hanging from the tree by its jaws.
After hauling Osama, it was turned over to Uganda Crocs Limited. Then it was sent to captivity and utilized as a breeding source for crocodiles in the Italian and South Korean fashion industries. During this time, the crocodile had lost its taste for human flesh, and it was observed munching on chicken flesh.
In 2005, Uganda Crocs proprietor Alex Mutamba said that crocodile breeds like Osama would likely eat humans when they felt their territory was being trespassed upon. Yet, he said that the crocodiles they were breeding were well-secured.
Osama Crocodile Victims
Osama caught his victims in different scenarios, such as carrying away the children from the shore while they were filling their water buckets. Sometimes, it would swim below the fishing boats and capsize them before eating the passengers. There were occasions when it would dive right inside the wooden boats.
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, a survivor, Paul, revealed what happened during Osama's attack. He said that the crocodile jumped into the boat and abducted his brother. Paul was fishing while his brother was rowing in the rear. He said that the crocodile dove vertically into the water and submerged the boat's back. This was the time when it grabbed his brother's leg in an attempt to drag him under.
After about five minutes of fighting, his brother clung to the boat; Paul heard tearing sounds. He heard his brother yelling that Osama had broken his leg. His brother lost control and fell into the lake. His brother did not survive.
According to an article published on History's website, crocodiles were 100 times deadlier than a shark. It could crush a victim with a force of 3,700 pounds per square inch. The same article advised people living in areas with saltwater crocodiles because they are giant and deadly.
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