The Craziest Crocodile Headlines From the Past Decade

Crocodiles are ancient reptiles that have existed since the time of dinosaurs, with their ancestors dating back over 200 million years. While they have retained many primitive features, crocodilians have also evolved and diversified over time. These fascinating reptiles live in rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, and other bodies of water across parts of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and southern Florida in North America.

Saltwater crocodiles are the largest living reptiles, with some males reaching lengths of up to 17 feet and weighing over 2,200 pounds! Some reports suggest they can grow even larger. Due to their aggressive nature, sharp teeth, and ability to move quickly, these apex predators sometimes have unique, frightening, and even frustrating encounters with humans. In honor of World Croc Day in June, we’ve compiled some of the most absurd, fascinating, outlandish, and wild headlines about crocs over the past decade.

1. Jamaica’s ‘Crocodile Guardian’ Is Fighting to Save the Island’s Feared Predators

Australia had “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, and Jamaica has “Crocodile Guardian” Lawrence Henriques. This CNN story details the man who made it his life mission to help conserve the dwindling population of American Crocodiles living in Jamaica through his Holland Bay Crocodile Sanctuary. He works to raise young crocodiles, nurse sick crocs, and rehabilitate them for release into the wild.

2. Odd Behavior Makes Wild Crocodiles Look Like Drowning Humans — Are They Trying to Lure People to Their Deaths?

The photos in this PEOPLE article do not disappoint. An Instagram user captured footage of crocodiles in Indonesia sticking their feet out of the water and wiggling them back and forth to resemble a drowning human waving an arm for help. It looks so realistic that many people think the crocodiles are trying to lure human rescuers underwater, although croc experts refute this claim.

3. Fence-Climbing Crocodile at Australian Wildlife Park Leaves Visitors Terrified

The Independent reported on this terrifying story that’ll make you never want to leave your house again. (Especially if you live in Australia.) A croc named One Eye partially climbed out of the fence at the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park, scaring visitors, although it didn’t actually escape. Interestingly, crocs are quite adept climbers!

4. Couple Slammed for Letting Kids Play Dangerously Close to Crocodile-Infested Waters in Darwin

Crocodiles should not be feared, but they should be respected. The Daily Mail reported on a viral video of a couple letting their kids hang over a guardrail at the Mangrove Boardwalk in Australia, with wild crocs swimming in the water below. Because these animals can leap from the water into the air, the children could become tempting prey for crocodiles.

5. Tourist’s Dumb Decision Nearly Cost Him His Life in Crocodile Enclosure

In another case of people making bad decisions when it comes to crocodiles, a man thought it would be funny to take selfies with a crocodile in the animal’s protected enclosure! According to the New York Post, a 29-year-old man scaled a fence at the Zamboanga Sibugay zoo in the Philippines to take photos with a 15-foot croc named Lalay. He smiled for the selfie just seconds before the croc bit his arm, then wrestled with the animal for about 30 minutes before being rescued.

6. The Unique Story of the World’s Oldest Crocodile Who Had 6 Wives and Fathered 10,000 Babies

One crocodile is responsible for thousands of crocs throughout its long lifetime: Henry, the world’s oldest known living crocodile, born in 1900. He lives in the Crocworld Conservation Centre in South Africa and has fathered 10,000 babies with six different mates over his long lifetime. Read the full story from the Times of India.

7. Crocodile’s ‘Virgin Birth’ Is a First for Science’s History Books

You’ve heard of the Virgin Mary, but have you heard of a virgin crocodile? The Wire tells of an impressive crocodile that laid a clutch of 14 eggs, seven of which were healthy enough to be artificially incubated. This led to the birth of one healthy croc, which was genetically identical to its mother, with no genetic contribution from a male crocodile. Is there anything female crocodiles can’t do?

8. Plane Crashes After Crocodile Escapes, Causing Panic

ABC News reported on a crocodile so feared, it actually caused a plane to crash. A small airplane in the Democratic Republic of the Congo crashed after a passenger brought a small crocodile on board and the animal escaped. All the frightened passengers rushed to one side of the plane to escape the crocodile, causing the aircraft to become unbalanced and resulting in a fatal crash.

9. Watch: Crocodile and Alligator Battle It Out in Everglades National Park

In a fight between a crocodile and an alligator, who would win? This happened in real life at Everglades National Park, when someone caught a crocodile and an alligator fighting, presumably over a spot to bask in the sun. South Florida is reportedly the only place in the world where the American crocodile and the American alligator are found together in the wild. See the video shared by Fox News.

10. Amazing! Six-Year-Old Odisha Girl Mamata Dalai Defeats Crocodile to Get Award from PM Narendra Modi

A 6-year-old girl received the National Bravery Award in India after pulling her 7-year-old friend out of the mouth of a crocodile, per the Indian Express. The 5-foot croc approached the two girls while they were bathing in a pond. The girl grabbed her friend’s hands, screamed, and pulled her away before the croc let go and disappeared. Talk about a fearless friend!