Watch a Man Come Within 0.1 Seconds of Getting His Hand Chomped by a Crocodile

Crocodiles are opportunistic and happy to snack on anything meaty. Despite knowing this, a man places his entire forearm into the mouth of a crocodile. He clearly knows what he’s doing because despite the crocodile responding with a quick bite, the man walks away unscathed!

Watch the Video Below!

Can You Train Crocodiles?

Surprisingly, yes, crocodiles respond well to training. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, keepers at their Reptile Discovery Center employ operant conditioning when training crocodiles. This is not something you can try out in the wild, however. The crocodiles they work with are dangerous, nonetheless. Training allows for a safer environment while working with these large reptiles. Not only that but regular training helps reduce crocodile stress. Plus, it allows researchers to learn more about the cognitive abilities of crocodiles.

Why Are Some Crocodiles in Captivity?

The population of animals in the wild requires careful management. Even if a crocodile species is not endangered, there are conservation practices in effect as well as relocators who can assist with nuisance crocodiles. There are different efforts underway from actively removing nuisance crocodiles to educating the public about these creatures. Part of the whole conservation system includes raising young crocodiles in captivity to later release them in a protected environment.

Man Narrowly Escapes Crocodile Bite

The moment this video starts, a man is leaning his chin against the top of a crocodile’s mouth. The crocodile is below him, looking up toward him, its mouth agape. He carefully holds this position for a few seconds and rearranges himself slightly, his eyes widening as he moves into a more vulnerable position. He’s sort of sitting on the crocodile’s back, his right foot tucked under the crocodile’s right front leg. Keeping this position, he quickly moves his right hand in front of the crocodile’s eyes just below where his chin meets the crocodile’s mouth. Then, he moves his left hand around to place his entire forearm inside the crocodile’s mouth.

He barely makes it into the crocodile’s mouth before the crocodile responds by snapping its jaws. But the handler is lightning fast, moving his entire arm out of harm’s way a millisecond before the crocodile responds! As the crocodile bites, it moves its head forward onto the grass in a more natural position. The man keeps his right hand over its head and eyes. The crowd is both shocked and impressed by what just happened and the man continues calmly speaking into his microphone as he delights the spectators.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Audrey Snider-Bell/Shutterstock.com