OUT THERE WITH JASE ANDREWS
Look down: Flattened vegetation, drag marks,
and footprints are signs that a crocodile might
not be far off. If there are fishermen nearby, be
wary of fish scraps as there’s a good chance of
attracting a few crocs.
Don’t be deceived by calm waters: Crocs love
an afternoon basking in the sun so keep an eye
out on the river banks. But keep in mind that they
like to submerge themselves and wait for prey. If
that isn't terrifying enough, crocs can hold their
breath for up to an hour, all while slowing their
heart rate to a few beats per minute. You might
not see movement in the water, but that doesn’t
mean there’s no danger floating nearby.
Stay in designated areas: Pay attention to the
warning signs that state whether certain areas
are ‘croc-infested waters’. If you don’t see any
signs, stay safe and always assume any body of
water, particularly mangrove swamps and rivers,
has a crocodile. This means avoiding swimming,
fishing, or canoeing, especially in lesser known
bodies of water located in croc country.
Cold weather won’t protect you: Being cold-
blooded, crocs are generally more active during
the warmer seasons, but that doesn’t mean they’ll
disappear for the rest of the year.
A DECADE OF DIRT!
Crocs do travel: Even though freshwater crocs
aren’t known as man-eaters, that doesn’t mean
you won’t find their more aggressive counterpart,
the salties, in their habitat.
Don’t bother with zig-zagging: It’s a common
misconception that you should run away from
crocs in a zig-zag because they supposedly
can’t make quick turns. These guy can run up to
18km/h so they could probably catch up to you.
Instead, aim for the nearest tree and climb as fast
as you can. That said, they rarely attack on land
and only chase after you if they feel threatened.
If worst comes to worst: If for whatever reason
you find yourself near or within a crocodile’s
jaws, don’t bother trying to pry open its mouth;
human strength is nothing against the strongest
bite in the world, and they’ll only clamp on harder.
A jab to the eyes and punch in the nose should
disorientate them and give you some chance of
escape.
While crocs are perceived as scary and dangerous
creatures, they actually don’t pose that much of
a threat to humans. Studies reveal you are more
likely to be attacked by dogs and horses. As long
as we can better educate ourselves on how to be
safe and vigilant around crocs, both humans and
crocs can co-exist and explore peacefully in the
same region.
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