An expert has spoken out after people shared a disturbing theory about a viral video of a crocodile ‘pretending to drown’.
The crocodile was reportedly filmed in the Barito River in Borneo with its hands waving in the air as it rolled onto its back. It almost looked like it was pretending to be in some kind of trouble.
Some people have been coming out to theorise that the saltwater crocs in the area have been learning how to mimic drowning as a tactic to lure humans into the water so that they can snap them up.
Now, a croc expert has spoken out to explain what’s really going on.
Aussie experts (and if there is ever an expert on crocs, it’s an Australian) have come out to say that crocs mimicking humans to lure them into the water is just not plausible.
Brandon Sideleau is a researcher of human and crocodile conflict at Charles Darwin University, and he believes that while he’s seen ‘abnormal’ behaviour before, there’s probably a reasonable explanation for it all.
As the video of the crocodile has gained over 50 million views on just one page, Brandon claims that the misinformation surrounding the video could impact how crocodile populations are managed.
He said: “Other misinformation can be much more damaging if people are suggesting management strategies that are potentially damaging to the crocodile population or dangerous to the human population.”
As for the reason why, they are flailing their little arms, it’s likely to be harmless.
He explained: “I think it’s probably got some prey items in its mouth because I’ve seen it on some of the rivers here where saltwater crocodiles will kind of spin around underwater, you’ll see their hands up in the air when they’ve got food in their jaws.
“That would be my guess. It could even be neurological, but my guess would be prey.”
The expert went on to say that although in ‘Indonesia roughly 100 people are killed by saltwater crocodiles annually’ even though they have fewer crocodiles than Australia.
He said: “Crocodiles are also much more intelligent than they are often given credit for… but they certainly would not be mimicking a person drowning to attract prey.
“It definitely wouldn’t be trying to lure people in because there’d be no way for it to actually learn that.”
Zoologist and researcher Professor Graham Webb also told Yahoo that the whole rumour about the pretending crocs is nothing more than ‘complete creative journalism with no factual basis’ and that maybe the crocodile had its tail caught which prevented it from ‘swimming normally’.
Brandon went on to share that the number of attacks is higher in areas where getting into the water is necessary.
That’s because you’ll be closer to crocs for longer periods of time, whereas in Australia, you really can avoid them most of the time.
So, they’re probably not trying to lure you in – just be mindful that if you’re in water known for crocs that there isn’t one near you.
