Crocodile Lays Claim To Kayak And Chases off Two Paddlers

Written by Kirstin Harrington
Updated: October 20, 2023
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There’s nothing better than throwing on your swimsuit, grabbing a kayak, and heading out on the water. Whether you enjoy raging rapids or a calm lake, this water sport is popular all around the world. 

A couple of fans of the sport were enjoying a day on the water when their buddy’s kayak got away from him. It floated towards the edge of the water, where a crocodile was sunbathing. Within seconds, the croc shoots underwater and the people in the remaining kayaks freak out. 

Take a Look at This Frightening Video Below

Surprisingly, crocodiles are less scared of humans than alligators. Alligators are hunted more often and have since started to fear us more and more. The way the crocodile dashed into the water from the shore is a sign that it was terrified. It wasn’t running after the kayakers, it was running from them! 

It’s understandable to be scared of the unknown. Believe it or not, crocodiles and alligators have capsized kayaks from below before. Although there is very little chance that a crocodile may attack a kayaker, there is a higher risk when paddling in areas where crocodiles are common. 

If you’re kayaking in a group of people, you should consider how your group would appear to any alligators that might be resting on the shores of the lake or river you’re on. It shouldn’t be too difficult to imagine how your group may appear to the others when viewed through their lens if they were a hunting party.

A Parade Not a Pack

It’s best to leave at least 15-20 feet between all of the kayaks when you set up shop in the water. You’re more likely to appear like a parade than a pack of hunters if you preserve that gap between you and move in a straight line. The kayakers in this video were relatively close together. 

This paired with the floating kayak that was closest to the croc likely spooked it directly into the water. As you can tell by watching the footage, the people kayaking were way more frightened than any crocodile! 

After turning around and feverishly paddling away from the reptile, they eventually slowed down to look behind them. My question is – where is the third person? There are three kayaks but only two people are seen in the video. 

Regardless, the best thing to do if you’re ever approached by a crocodile is to back away slowly. If you run, it may see you as prey and shimmy after you. Depending on the species of crocodile, they can run up to 22 miles per hour! I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot faster than me!

While an encounter with these beasts may make the hair on your neck stand up, this video is as hilarious as it is entertaining!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Reinhold Leitner/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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