TOCANTINS, BRAZIL - Agronomy student Isaac dos Santos Silva, 24, captured the dramatic moment an alligator lunged at a canoe after appearing lifeless on the surface of the Araguaia River.
Silva was aboard a canoe with his brother, father, and uncle when they encountered the reptile. Believing it was dead, they decided to approach it—only to be taken by surprise.
The incident occurred on the border between the Brazilian states of Tocantins and Pará, in a rural stretch between the towns of Pau D'Arco (TO) and Floresta do Araguaia (PA).
In the video, the alligator remains motionless as the canoe drifts closer. One of the men touches its tail, but the animal does not react. It is only when prodded with a stick that the alligator suddenly snaps at the object, shocking the group.
Speaking afterward, Silva said the group was initially frightened but later concerned the animal might be injured or ill.
"We were really startled, but then we became worried. It didn’t seem well—probably injured or having trouble digesting something it ate. Even after we bothered it, thinking it was dead, it couldn’t fully submerge,"* he explained.
The incident took place on Friday (May 30th), and according to Silva, the same alligator was spotted by others several kilometers away the following day (Saturday, May 31th).

Images: Isaac do Santos

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