The jaw of a crocodile crushes its victim with 3,700 pounds per square inch of force. That’s more than three and a half times a lion’s bite and 25 times a human’s bite. Crocodile attacks have historically been 100 times deadlier than shark attacks—and far more common—ranging from terrifying individual encounters to a mass onslaught on World War II soldiers.
Crocodiles have inspired fear for millennia, living on five different continents and preying both in water and on land. However, mankind has defeated these ancient reptiles on multiple occasions. But really, how to survive a crocodile attack?
What are Crocodiles?
While there are 25 species of crocodiles, not all of them are dangerous to humans. To physically devour a person, these reptiles must be 8 feet or larger, and not all species reach that size.
It’s difficult to say how many people are eaten by crocs each year because huge crocs often live in secluded forests and marshes. Because many attacks are not reported to the police, the figures are not correct. Crocodiles are thought to take between 300 and 1,000 individuals per year, according to some sources. The majority of them are either Nile or Saltwater Crocodiles. In India, Mugger Croc is also responsible for a large number of deaths.
Behind those three are eight more vicious crocodiles that have been known to attack and swallow adult humans if given the opportunity.
- West African crocodile
- American crocodile
- Morelet’s crocodile
- Orinoco crocodile
- Cuban crocodile
- Black caiman
- Sunda gharial
- American alligator
Freshwater crocodiles, Philippine crocodiles, Siamese crocodiles, broad-snouted caimans, spectacled caimans, yacare caimans, and gharials are among those that can take small children or dogs. While many other species have altered dramatically over time, crocodiles appear to have changed little since the time of the dinosaurs. They first appeared roughly 200 million years ago, and the majority of the species are still alive today. In other words, they discovered something that actually worked – but what was it?
Crocs’ capacity to be sit-and-wait predators contributes to their danger. They can stay below for up to two hours without coming up for air, just waiting for prey to come by. They also have the most powerful bite force of any large predator. Nile crocs have been known to bite at speeds of up to 5000 pounds per square inch. In comparison, the average human bite power is roughly 162 pounds per square inch. You won’t be able to open your mouth if you get chomped by a croc. That is something to think about before placing yourself into a predicament from which you cannot escape.
How to Survive a Crocodile Attack?
Even if they are dangerous creatures, there are still a few things you can do to survive. Here are a few tips you might need to remember if you are hiking or camping on a lake. Remember, being prepared is the best way to stay alive.
Avoid saltwater crocodiles because they are enormous and lethal.
The majority of attacks happen around or in the water. A saltwater croc can weigh over 2,000 pounds and propel itself forward with its tail. “The Dominator,” a legendary 20-foot-long crocodile in Australia’s Northern Territory, was said to have jumped up past the railing of an Adelaide River tour boat.
During the Battle of Ramree Island in World War II, the Imperial Army discovered firsthand how lethal saltwater crocs could be. The Allies launched an operation to retake Ramree from the Japanese on January 26, 1945. Forced to flee, several soldiers made their way to the mangrove wetlands. British soldier and naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright believed that only 20 of the 1,000 soldiers survived the night, either unaware that the seas were teeming with crocs or drastically underestimating their might. It may have been the worst crocodile assault in history.
Swim only in places designated for water activities, and even then, keep an eye out. Boaters should avoid leaning over the side of their vessels because crocodiles can climb aboard and capsize small vessels as well as snap at dangling limbs.
Faced with a crocodile? Slowly back away and sprint in a straight path.
A video of a woman creating noise with her flip flop to scare away crocodiles in Australia’s Kakadu National Park went viral in 2016. While she was successful, facing a crocodile is a dangerous proposition.
If you see a croc, back away carefully and avoid making sudden moves. Splashing in water will only bring attention to yourself. If a crocodile approaches, run away in a straight line. The myth of the zig-zag movement is exactly that: fiction. Crocodiles can move at speeds of up to ten miles per hour, so take off your flip-flops and run faster.
Poke it between the eyes.
If you can get your fingers or whatever else into these sensitive organs, the croc might let you go. If the eyes are out of reach, the nostrils and throat are the next most vulnerable locations. Crocodiles have a skin flap that protects water from entering their throat. If your hand becomes trapped inside their lips, you may be able to pull this flap down and extricate yourself.
Fight like hell if you’re pushed into a “death roll.”
Once seized in the jaws, it will violently toss you about to position you. This allows the croc to tip its head back and slide you down its long throat. Prepare for the approaching death roll if this maneuver fails. Hold your breath as it pulls you beneath the surface of the water and roll in the same direction as the croc, without fighting it. That is, if you want to avoid limb loss and severe injury.
The death roll isn’t called that for nothing. This move allows the crocodile to drown its victim and pull off any unwanted limbs. Because its muscular jaws do not chew effectively, it prefers a streamline snack to swallow whole. Because death rolls require a lot of energy, the croc will need to rest before attempting them again. Use this little break to fight with greater zeal. It could be your final chance.
Keep your distance from its jaws.
The jaw of a crocodile may create up to 34,500 kilopascals (5,000 pound-force per square inch) of pressure, which is fifty times greater than the bite of a person. They can violently rip through everything from skin to bone in seconds. Don’t waste your valuable energy attempting to open the croc’s jaw. It cannot be unlocked once it has been locked. Save your strength for the actual struggle.
Take hold of something.
If you are on land before an attack, it is critical that you do not let a crocodile drag you into the surrounding water. Hold your ground with a tree, a rock, or anything else you can find. You don’t want to be drawn into the dark depths of this dangerous creature’s natural environment. With its extraordinary capacity to hold its breath underwater, the crocodile prefers to kill its prey here. It will take as much time as it takes to overwhelm and drown you here in the murkiness.
Cry for Assistance.
Scream, make noise, and do whatever it takes to alert people to your location and what is going on. Others arriving on the scene may persuade the croc to abandon its prey. Remember that this animal’s apex predatory instincts are strong, as it evolved from the prehistoric past and became its own species 55 million years ago.
Because the crocodile is a risk-averse, opportunistic carnivore, it seeks out simple prey to satisfy its insatiable hunger. It is most comfortable waiting for days at the water’s edge before suddenly and unexpectedly attacking defenseless victims. Give it no chance of succeeding.
How to Avoid Crocodile Encounters?
While knowing how to fight is good, you can just avoid the possible attack altogether.
- Avoid swimming in croc-infested areas. This seems obvious, but if there is a sign indicating that they are nearby, it is most likely there for a reason.
- Swimming around dusk or at night in croc territory is not recommended because crocodiles frequently hunt at these times. Even if crocs aren’t expected, you should swim with caution at certain periods.
- Avoid getting within fifteen feet of a crocodile since they are shockingly swift at close range.
- Avoid walking along the water’s edge. In fact, remaining around 15 feet from the edge of the river at all times is advised in croc country.
- Avoid camping near bodies of water. In areas where crocs live, it is recommended that you put up camp no closer than 50m from the water. Campers have gone missing when crocs emerged from the river and abducted them from their campgrounds. If you’re wondering why I’m frightened of crocodiles, it’s because these facts feed my nightmares.
- Never take water from the same location twice. Crocs hunt in ingenious ways. If they notice someone accumulating water in one location on a river, they will migrate to that location, submerge, and wait. This is also why, when I camped in northern Australia, I took extra water.
- Crocodile nests should be avoided. They, like other moms in the animal species, are aggressive in safeguarding their babies.
- Feeding crocs should be avoided. Giving food to a crocodile is not only illegal and dangerous in most locations, but it also educates crocs to link humans with food! This leads to further confrontations, which are disastrous for either the human or the croc, who will almost certainly have to be killed.
Conclusion
I’m sure you’ve gained healthy respect or dread of crocodilians as a result of this chapter. That is by far the best way to look at them in terms of safety. They are also magnificent creatures in their own way. Crocodiles are the top predators in their environment. They play important ecological roles in the environments in which they reside. I’d also argue that having these big man-eaters around is beneficial to your mental health if only to remind you that you’re not always the top dog everywhere. I suppose it’s a decent foundation. And, for God’s sake, if there are any signs warning of crocodiles, give the sign installers the benefit of the doubt and don’t go swimming.
