The Makueni County government has announced a ban on women fetching water from River Athi during their monthly periods.
The announcement was made by Trade and Tourism County Minister Sonia Nzilani during the burial ceremony of a 17-year-old girl.
According to the minister, women face risks when fetching water at the river while on their periods, explaining that crocodiles are particularly attracted to the scent of menstrual blood.
The 17-year-old girl lost her life to a crocodile attack while fetching water from the river. However, it is not clear whether she was on her menstrual cycle at the time or not.
The young girl’s death raised alarm in the region, where fetching water from River Athi is a daily task for many families.
While the measure aims to reduce the risks posed by crocodile attacks, questions have been raised on whether the move is well-informed and if there is scientific evidence to back the claim from the minister.
Crocodiles are often thought to be attracted to menstrual blood, but scientific evidence supporting this claim is limited.
However, the belief stems from the fact that many wild animals, including crocodiles, have highly developed senses of smell and can be drawn to the scent of blood.
There is no definitive research proving that menstrual blood specifically attracts crocodiles more than other types of blood.
That said, research done by the Florida Museum indicates that shark’s sense of smell is powerful, allowing them to find prey from hundreds of yards away.
Therefore, menstrual blood in the water could be detected by a shark, just like any urine or other bodily fluids.
However, there is no positive evidence that menstruation is a factor in shark bites.
Additionally, evidence suggests when swimming the water pressure will temporarily stop the flow of menstrual blood decreasing the chances any blood is released into the water.