An expert has spoken out after people shared a worrying theory about a viral video of a crocodile ‘pretending to drown’.
The crocodile must have been filmed in the Barito River in Borneo with 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 come out to theorize that the saltwater crocodiles in the area have learned how to mimic drowning as a tactic to lure people into the water so they can pick them up.
Now a crash expert has spoken out to explain what really happens.
A crocodile was filmed “pretending to drown” (Instagram/@lukman_arisma)
Aussie experts (and if ever there was an expert on crocodiles, this is one Australian) have come out to say that hooks imitating humans to lure them into the water is simply not plausible.
Brandon Sideleau is a human-crocodile conflict researcher at Charles Darwin University, and he believes that while he has seen “abnormalbehavior before, there is probably a reasonable explanation for it all.
Since the video of the crocodile has received over 50 million views on just one page, Brandon argues that the misinformation surrounding the video could affect how crocodile populations are managed.
He said: “Other misinformation can be much more damaging if people suggest management strategies that are potentially harmful to the crocodile population or dangerous to the human population.”
As for the reason they swing their little arms, it’s likely harmless.
He explained: “I think it probably has some prey in its mouth because I’ve seen it at some of the rivers here where saltwater crocodiles are kind of spinning 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, “approximately 100 people are killed by saltwater crocodiles annually”, although they have fewer crocodiles than Australia.
He said: “Crocodiles are also far more intelligent than they are often given credit for… but they certainly wouldn’t mimic a person drowning to attract prey.
“It definitely wouldn’t be trying to lure people in because there would be no way for it to actually learn it.”
Zoologist and researcher Professor Graham Webb also told Yahoo that the whole rumor about the pretend crocodiles is nothing more than “complete creative journalism with no basis in fact” and that the crocodile may have got its tail stuck, preventing it from “swimming normally”.
Brandon went on to say that the rate of attacks is higher in areas where it is necessary to get into the water.
This is because you will be closer to crocodiles for longer periods of time, whereas in Australia you can really avoid them most of the time.
So they’re probably not trying to lure you in – just be aware that if you’re in water known for crocodiles, there won’t be any near you.
