The Life Of A Nile Crocodile
THE Nile crocodile is found in Africa. It is the largest of all the world’s crocodiles.
By Fred Nangoli
The Nile crocodile is found in Africa. It is the largest of all the world’s crocodiles. At nearly six metres in length, and weighing between 272 to 900kg, it is also the most fearsome predator to both animals and people. It spends its day resting, swimming and eating. Its skin can be drab green or brownish to blackish and its habitat is freshwater areas. The crocodile eats anything, ranging from insects to animals.
Barbara Musoke, the Uganda Wildlife Authority spokesperson says it eats fish and turtles, which it cracks open with its powerful jaws to large mammals including baboons, hyenas and impalas.
“Although it is not a common event, the crocodile can kill and eat human beings as well,†she says.
One of its hunting techniques is surprise. Musoke says a crocodile will wait for its prey to come down the water’s edge for a drink, then it slowly swims to the shore and lies in wait with just its eyes above the water, a few feet from its prey. Then it suddenly lunges out of the water and latches onto its prey with its powerful jaw, eventually pulling it into deeper water where it drowns it.
It’s jaws do not allow it to chew, so it simply tears chunks from the carcass and tips its head back to swallow the food
A young crocodile becomes independent at the age of two but becomes sexually mature at 12 years. Between the age of two and eight, the young ones also avoid big crocodiles because they often turn against them and eat them too.
They are known to reach speeds of 29 miles per hour. According to a BBC report, they are thought to kill as many as 1,000 people every year.
Ends
The Nile crocodile is found in Africa. It is the largest of all the world’s crocodiles. At nearly six metres in length, and weighing between 272 to 900kg, it is also the most fearsome predator to both animals and people. It spends its day resting, swimming and eating. Its skin can be drab green or brownish to blackish and its habitat is freshwater areas. The crocodile eats anything, ranging from insects to animals.
Barbara Musoke, the Uganda Wildlife Authority spokesperson says it eats fish and turtles, which it cracks open with its powerful jaws to large mammals including baboons, hyenas and impalas.
“Although it is not a common event, the crocodile can kill and eat human beings as well,†she says.
One of its hunting techniques is surprise. Musoke says a crocodile will wait for its prey to come down the water’s edge for a drink, then it slowly swims to the shore and lies in wait with just its eyes above the water, a few feet from its prey. Then it suddenly lunges out of the water and latches onto its prey with its powerful jaw, eventually pulling it into deeper water where it drowns it.
It’s jaws do not allow it to chew, so it simply tears chunks from the carcass and tips its head back to swallow the food
A young crocodile becomes independent at the age of two but becomes sexually mature at 12 years. Between the age of two and eight, the young ones also avoid big crocodiles because they often turn against them and eat them too.
They are known to reach speeds of 29 miles per hour. According to a BBC report, they are thought to kill as many as 1,000 people every year.
Ends