by Crocodiles are weird creatures, often thought of as stealthy and powerful but there’s more to their behaviour than meets the eye. While their lives are all about survival, crocodiles do things that suggest curiosity, intelligence and even a bit of playfulness. From floating on water currents to interacting with their surroundings, crocodiles show us surprising aspects of their wild and captive lives.
Crocodilian Behaviour
Crocodiles and their relatives the alligators have been fascinating people for centuries. Their behaviour is a balance of instinctual survival behaviour and moments that can be interpreted as “fun” or leisure. Watching baby crocodiles and adult crocodiles will show you how these wild animals interact with their environment, whether in deep water, water currents or water streams.
Playful things crocodiles do
Not playful in the human sense but crocodiles do things that can be interpreted as leisure or fun:
- Sliding into Water Streams: Juvenile crocodiles and even baby alligators slide into streams, enjoying the natural flow and learning stealthy entry techniques.
- Object Play: Crocodiles sometimes play with floating sticks or vegetation. This is seen in both wild animals and those in captivity and stimulates their instincts and curiosity.
- Chasing and Swimming Games: Baby crocodiles chase each other in shallow water, mimicking the crocodile chase behaviour of adults hunting prey.
Where to see crocodiles
If you want to see crocodiles in the wild, try:
- Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory: Thousands of crocodilians and stunning views of wild crocodiles in natural pools and waterways.
- Daintree Rainforest, Queensland: Home to American crocodiles and water birds, this is a nature lover’s paradise.
- Nitmiluk Gorge, Katherine: A peaceful spot with beautiful water streams and plenty of basking crocodiles.
For the full experience Autopia Tours offers guided trips to these destinations, combining wildlife viewing with expert commentary on crocodile behaviour.
Crocodiles and their environment
Crocodiles are very adaptable and live in many different habitats:
- Freshwater Streams: Shallow calm water where young crocodiles learn to navigate currents.
- Swamps and Mangroves: Excellent camouflage where crocodiles can ambush prey.
- Ocean Waves and Estuaries: Some species like saltwater crocodiles traverse ocean waves and estuaries, showing off their amazing adaptability.
Crocodiles in captivity
In captivity crocodiles need enrichment activities that mimic their natural behaviour:
- Interactive Feeding: Crocodile enclosures often simulate hunting to keep the animals mentally and physically active.
- Floating Toys: Logs and other objects for play and engagement, especially with baby crocodiles.
- Habitat Exploration: Well designed captive crocodile enclosures have streams of water and basking areas.
Nearby Tour Experiences for Crocodile Enthusiasts
The most fun you can have with crocodiles is the Jumping Crocodile Tour along the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory. On these exciting Darwin crocodile tours, these blokes launch themselves out of the water to catch food and show off their strength and agility. During a jumping crocodile cruise, you get to see their natural hunting skills in action as they use their tails to propel themselves up into the air, sometimes as high as 6-7 metres. Tourists taking crocodile tours flock to see this and get up close and personal with the raw power of crocodiles. If you’re in the area, a Darwin crocodile tour is the safe and fun way to see these magnificent creatures in their own backyard.
Conclusion
Crocodiles are not just top of the food chain; they’re smart and adaptable and have some pretty cool behaviors. From playing with their environment to their role in conservation, crocodiles are fascinating and awesome. Seeing them in the wild or on a guided tour will give you a greater appreciation of their lives.
FAQs
Do crocodiles play with objects?
Yes, crocodiles play with floating objects like sticks, especially juveniles. This happens in both wild and captive crocodiles.
Can crocodiles surf ocean waves?
Saltwater crocodiles have been seen surfing ocean waves and currents to move between habitats.
Why is Kakadu National Park good for crocodile spotting?
Kakadu has lots of different habitats, rivers, streams of water and wetlands, thousands of crocodilians.
Are crocodiles in captivity less active?
Captive crocodiles are given enrichment activities to mimic their natural behaviour so they stay active and engaged.
How do crocodiles cope with different water currents?
Crocodiles are great swimmers and use their powerful tails to swim against currents of water, whether in rivers or oceans.
