When Crocodiles Are Cuddling
And look tame like pets
Crocodiles are for me the representation of wild animals. They are as wild as animals can get. Haven’t changed in millions of years and have survived from times when all dinosaurs died.
Most of the time they seem slow and sluggish but when they’re disturbed or hungry they can shoot out of nowhere within seconds and destroy anything in front of their mouth.
Often well hidden in the water or the river banks they camouflage by not moving for extended periods of time. I once walked across a meadow next to a lake not realizing the croc was lying a few meters from me.
My latest encounter with these reptiles was on a crocodile farm in Namibia, southern Africa. We came just a bit too late. The feeding of the animals was in its final throws and most crocodiles were already too lazy to move.
Which actually made it easier to take great photographs since they wouldn’t cause a blur in the shots. Not while lying on the ground and only keeping the mouth open for breathing.
The funny thing for me was to see how chilled they were. When one of the animals wanted to go in the water it just walked over the other crocodiles without causing any of them to even blink with the eye.
The only time I caught them a bit aggressive was when the guides threw the last pieces of chicken down and three crocs were fighting at the same time for one piece of meat.
But even that happened rather peacefully. Probably because they all had enough already. And after feeding time it’s definitely nap time. Also for these reptiles.
Looking at these massive crocodiles peacefully lying onshore I get the feeling that some of them smiled at me. In a weird way. While showing their teeth just a little bit.
From the safe distance of a protected walkway, I dare to lean over the railing to take a close-up shot of this beauty. There is indeed beauty to be seen in these animals. As long as you don’t get to experience their dangerous side.
Zooming onto their back the skin reminds me of tortoiseshell or some creative art hanging in a museum. Remembering back to the time I once was living without fear and dared to touch the skin of a crocodile in Ghana, West Africa.
It’s a very weird feeling touching the skin. It feels like leather. Yet somehow soft as well. But it feels strong and powerful at the same time.
The last chicken has been eaten and none of the reptiles have any energy left to move anymore. While their stomachs are working now trying to get through all the food the crocodiles are dozing in the midday sun.
The viewing of this scene gives off a somehow peaceful yet tense feeling. One always expects something to happen any minute. But it doesn’t. Now and then one of the crocodiles gently climbs over the others to reach the water.
The trees are hanging full of birds. Some brave ones walk along the shore. Picking for insects while always keeping an eye on these large reptiles. But none of them give off the impression to move for a bird walking by.
It gets even more interesting when visiting the other cages. While the four-year-olds seem to be the most aggressive age group the younger ones also sleep most of the time.
The aggressive age group seems to constantly chase each other around. But the one-year-olds are lying on top of each other in a long line around the water. With one eye open and the other one closed, they try to recharge their batteries in the sun.
I hope you enjoyed this photo essay despite it being around those feared and most aggressive animals. I usually don’t visit such animal farms but on the mission to show my sister as much of this country as possible we also stopped by at the crocodile farm.
And look at it. It was fascinating enough for me to make an article out of it.
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Anne Bonfert is a traveler. Photographer. Writer. Teacher. Skydiving instructor. Adventure enthusiast. Nature lover. And fell in love with the African continent.
