Video Captures Chaotic Scene as a Nile Crocodile Bites a Fisherman

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Fishing in Africa can be an incredible experience, but it also presents dangers. The Nile crocodile is one of the most terrifying. In this short but intense clip, we join a fisherman who is declaring that something is biting his line when a more urgent matter arises. He is being attacked by a Nile crocodile!

The footage becomes chaotic and for a while we can only catch glimpses of the croc’s head, mouth, and teeth. It clearly has the human’s leg secured in its jaws. Then, the fisherman manages to get his hands around the animal’s snout and hold the jaws together. Towards the end, you can hear him say “Oww” which must be the understatement of the year!

All About Nile Crocodiles

Nile crocodiles are found in several areas throughout sub-Saharan Africa and are found in the Nile basin and western Madagascar. They can live to be 45 years old and grow to 20 feet in length. The croc in this video looks a lot smaller than that so it may have been a young crocodile.

There are plenty of reasons for humans to fear this apex predator. It is estimated that they kill around 200 people a year and they are generally regarded as one of the more aggressive species of crocodile. They can swim at up to 22 mph and have a bite force that is five times stronger than a lion! These incredible reptiles are quite hard to see in this type of water so they will have crept up on you before you realize that they are there.

Fighting Off a Crocodile

The fisherman in this video looked as if he was used to fighting off crocs. So, what is the best way to protect yourself from these fierce animals? You may have noticed that he is holding its mouth shut. Whilst a croc can bite down with a force of around 3,700 pounds of pressure per square inch (PSI) it has very little strength when opening the jaws. Therefore, this is a good strategy.

Another tip from wildlife experts is to focus on their eyes. These are one of the most vulnerable parts of their body so if you can try to gouge them, they will probably release you! If you spot one before it spots you, back away slowly and then run!