The Unloved Crocodile

The Nile crocodile is renowned as the largest crocodilian in Africa. Adult specimens average about 3.5 to 5 meters in length but they can grow up to 5.5 meters or more from the head to the tip of the tail. They usually weigh about 225kg. The Female crocodiles which are usually smaller are very good mothers, but certainly not the ones you would want to cross! They lay between 25 and 80 eggs each year and unlike most other crocodilians, the female Nile crocodiles will bury them in sand rather than incubate them in decomposing vegetation. The eggs bear a resemblance to hen eggs, but have a much thinner shell. Hyenas and birds eat many of the eggs, and those that do survive hatch after a period of 13 weeks and the young crocodiles will come into the world fully capable of looking after themselves.

The crocodile plays its part in maintaining the balance of nature, but it is certainly not much loved for its work. They will eat almost anything that moves such as Birds, Fish, Hyenas, Gazelles, Zebras, Baboons, Buffalos and many others. Despite their razor sharp teeth, crocodiles cannot chew their prey; instead they grab their victim and shake, twist and turn it, tearing them into pieces until they are small enough to swallow. The Nile Crocodiles are very dangerous to humans because of their ability to strike before a person can react; hundreds of people are killed each year.

This may sound strange but, Nile crocodiles don´t only have enemies, they are alleged to have a symbolic relationship with certain types of birds such as the spur-winged plover. According to information, the crocodile opens its mouth expansively, and lets the bird pick the leeches that have been feeding on the crocodile’s blood. This symbolic relationship called mutualism benefits both animals. These amazing creatures have an unpleasant reputation, but we cannot deny the fact that they are just doing what they have to do to survive.