Rare crocodile moment captured in confronting drone footage by Aussie fishers
It is relatively rare but not entirely unheard of to witness a crocodile eating another crocodile in Australia.
Jaw-dropping drone footage has captured the moment a massive four-metre long saltwater crocodile devoured another of its own kind, with incredible video showing the giant reptile "showing off" its impressive dinner in front of a group of Aussie fishers.
Captured on November 24, Northern Territory-based fisher Megan White said she was out on a day trip with two friends when she began to smell "something dead".
The group were on an expedition at the Corroboree Billabong, southeast of Darwin, when they thought they saw a croc pull a dead cow into the river.
It's not an uncommon sight in the area, and actually, crocodiles cost farmers in the country's north big bucks annually due to the amount of livestock they consume, regularly snatching them from riverbeds.
The group sent their drone up into the sky to investigate — and what they soon saw left them in total shock. She said the group quickly realised that not only was the animal not a cow, it was a huge male croc, which they theorised was likely dead for a number of days. They said it was bloated and had suffered fatal lacerations to his head and neck.
"The fishing was a bit slow that morning, we weren’t getting much at all so we were a little surprised," White told Northern Territory News.
"Definitely not what we expected to see that day," White said, adding that the group documented the animal dragging its meal for at least 200 metres. "It was just real interesting to see him parade it down the billabong like he owned the joint. He was pretty puffed up."
Why do crocs eat other crocs?
It is relatively rare but not entirely unheard of to witness a crocodile eating another crocodile in Australia. This behaviour, known as intraspecific predation or cannibalism, is most commonly observed among estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles.
While such incidents are not everyday occurrences, they are a natural part of crocodile behaviour under certain circumstances. Crocodiles are opportunistic predators, and if a smaller or injured crocodile is vulnerable, a larger one may take advantage.
Some scientists suggest cannibalism may help regulate crocodile populations in certain areas. When cannibalism is observed, it often garners attention due to its dramatic nature, but it's a natural aspect of their ecosystem.
It's not the first time stunned photographs have captured crocodiles "showing off their meals". Western Australian man Rodney Fischer shared a "magnificent" image earlier this year showing a large saltwater crocodile drag a calf through waters in the state's north.
"This pic shows his immense size as he proudly showed off his recent kill," Fischer said. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the local said the image represented the fact cattle stations in the region suffer significant livestock losses due to wandering cows being snatched by hungry crocodiles.
Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.
