Clever crocodile shows off terrifying new fishing technique

When apex predators get this clever we are probably all doomed.
 By 
Elise Cooper
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Apparently having life-destroying jaws isn't enough of an advantage in the wild when it comes to catching dinner.

A photographer for NT News, Michael Franchi caught a crocodile performing a very unusual fishing technique. At least, that's the theory being touted to explain why a massive crocodile would swim around with its arms outstretched like it wants a hug.

Crocodile expert Professor Grahame Webb told NT News that the perplexing behaviour could indeed have something to do with fishing. "It looks like some kind of herding behaviour ... and I have not seen it done anywhere else."

"Maybe there are examples elsewhere of something similar but to me this is special behaviour, and I have only heard about it at Cahill's Crossing," Webb told the newspaper.

Cahill's crossing is in Kakadu National Park, Australia, and is a notoriously treacherous waterway, often flooded and frequented by scores of crocodiles during the wet season.

It's all just further proof that nature is filled with wickedly intelligent animals that could herd us into dinner. Or not.

But either way, don't go jumping into water ways in the Top End any time soon -- these guys are getting crafty.

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Elise Cooper

Previous Watercooler Web Culture Intern - Sydney Australia // misc burden on society

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