Nobody loves a crocodile

I can’t think of a scarier creature than the crocodile. It’s the largest of all reptiles and it kills more human beings than do snakes, tigers, lions and leopards put together. Each year, about one thousand people are killed by crocodiles in Africa – most of them women and children.

In the United States, including Texas, we have mostly alligators. The differences between the two are many, the most obvious being that with jaws closed, the alligator’s teeth are invisible, but the crocodile shows its long fourth tooth on each side of its lower jaw, giving it a most deceptive “grin.”

But crocodiles are nothing to grin about. They are one of the few animals that deliberately and regularly attack human beings. Many victims are women who are bathing, washing clothes or drawing water, and children who splash in the shallows.

Male crocs weigh 500 to 1,700 pounds and can swim at speeds up to 22 miles per hour. They can also move rapidly on land and all in all are fearsome killing machines. Their lifespan is 50 to 60 years and males are about 14 feet long and females about 12 feet long.

In all the world, there are an estimated 100,000 freshwater crocodiles. They have the strongest bite of any animal and their gastric juices are strong enough to liquify metal.

Finally, I am told there is a recommended procedure to follow if you come upon a crocodile on land, say on a riverbank. The recommendation is that you calmly move away from the crocodile, without turning your back. Good luck on that.