A Safe Swim With Crocodiles?

You might find this tough to believe, but freshwater crocodiles are harmless to man. They eat only fish and small aquatic animals. The problem though is spotting the difference between a fresh water crocodile and an Estuarine (salt water) one. You have to be an expert to tell one from the other. The salt water species is the world’s largest living reptile --- it can grow to over 6 meters in length --- and also the most dangerous.

Estuarine crocodiles kill hundreds of people each year. They submerge themselves in water with only their eyes and nostrils showing, making it very difficult for someone to spot their presence. They attack the unsuspecting prey suddenly, drag the victim by tightly holding on to a limb between their jaws and then kill the prey by twisting the limb so that the prey twists and rolls over into the water several times before drowning. The crocodile’s tail is very powerful, and is often the weapon with which it hits the prey so that the victim looses balance and falls into the water. Sounds gory, doesn’t it? Unless you’re very sure that the reptile in the water is a fresh water one, you shouldn’t be going in for a dip.