Idea #648 – Observing the Nile crocodiles of the Bandia pond in Senegal
The Nile crocodile is one of the largest living reptiles today. It has a massive body and a long, triangular muzzle. Its skin is usually gray, pulling slightly on greenish, black or brown. His eyes, ears and nostrils are located on the top of his head, allowing him to see, hear and breathe when immersed. He is very comfortable in the water but is not clumsy on the mainland, because he is able to push speed peaks of almost 17 km/h.
Despite his name, the species is not more specific to the Nile River. It is found throughout the African continent south of the Sahara, as far as South Africa and Madagascar. The animal frequents all slow-flowing rivers and water bodies of the continent: rivers, marshes, lagoons, water holes, lakes … The Nile crocodile is perfectly adapted to the environment aquatic that it only leaves to warm up or to lay. When hunting, he practices the lookout and waits for the right moment to jump on his prey. Almost totally submerged, it goes unnoticed by most animals because only its nostrils, ears and eyes are out of the water.
His brutal attacks usually leave no chance for his prey, which he carries underwater to drown them. The crocodile can not chew, it shelters its victim under a stump or a stone, so that the flesh is putrefied, and will feed then by swallowing large bites. His metabolism allows him to survive without food for a full year.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Nature Reserve of Bandia, Sénégal