Australia is known for its ferocious native wildlife, and although this reputation is sometimes a tourist-friendly urban legend, other times the warnings are legitimate.
A recent viral photo taken in North Queensland and posted online is a prime example, with any unwary passerby unable to identify the critter against the background of the wilderness.
On the banks of this stream, however, a giant dangerous reptile with jaws as strong as an industrial car crusher hides among the muck, filth, and boulders.
The gigantic crocodile’s form can be seen below the muck, its head pointing toward the coast and its tail vanishing into the murky water.
According to National Geographic, scientists have determined that the saltwater crocodile’s bite has the strongest force of any terrestrial animal at 3,700 pounds per square inch (PSI).
In comparison, lions have a biting force of roughly 1,000 psi, while the majority of commercial car crushers, which use huge hydraulic pistons to smash automobiles into cubes, need about 2,000 psi to function.
Crocs in the region may reach lengths of up to six meters, or over 20 feet, and are capable of holding their breath underwater for an hour and a half, according to CrocWise, a safety website headquartered in tropical North Queensland.
The Cairns resident who posted the image said that a crocodile’s “whole way of hunting involves their victim not being able to identify when they are near.”
I responded, “I reside in a saltwater crocodile habitat, and the guideline we prefer to follow is that if a body of water is large enough to conceal a crocodile, presume there is one concealed in it, and treat it with respect.”
Another commenter on the site related a story of their run-in with one of the prehistoric monsters.
They said, “I was once working on a cattle station and riding the motorcycle close to the lake.”
‘I reached a muddy area and accelerated to get through. I had no idea a crocodile was hidden in the arid dirt.
Went right over the top of him; had I moved more slowly, he would have caught me. Fortunately, I was able to crawl over the top since I struck it quickly.
While being uncommon, crocodile assaults on people do sometimes occur. Four individuals in Australia lost their lives to crocodile attacks between 2015 and 2018.
»Any hawk-eyed North Queenslander may see this Aussie predator«
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