TERROR AUSTRALIS: Extra Salty

A classic SMOKO conversation point is The Great Australian Saltwater Crocodile. Or ‘salties’ as they are referred to in Australia’s croc country.

These reptiles are the largest in the world, with the strongest bite force recorded by any animal. They are also considered the most aggressive, with a very small chance of surviving a full frontal attack.

Aussies are of course proud of the terror this inspires. This video went viral for its pure Australian swagger - to put it into fuller context, here are some lethal stats on Salties for some gruesome SMOKO chat:

• Historically, croc attacks are 100 times more fatal than shark attacks and more frequent.
• Crocodiles can sense the fear in an array of prey, from humans to primates, of any age. Researchers say these predatory reptiles can detect dread better than people are able to.
• The only animal to perform an underwater ‘death roll’ - described by a survivor as: ‘A centrifuge of boiling blackness that lasted for an eternity, beyond endurance’.
• People report feeling the apex predator watching them, before spotting them, causing their hair to stand up on the back of their neck and a feeling of ‘unease’ following them.
• The large reptiles can run at a speed up to 18 miles per hour and can move into a terror inducing ‘gallop’ to gain speed.
• Crocodiles are known as the most vocal reptile. They use deep growls, hisses and terrifying gutteral roars to communicate.

One of the most incredible croc-attack survival stories is relayed here by Australian eco-feminist Val Plumwood. She describes being pulled from a tree several times, the experience of repeated death rolls and navigating to safety with considerable blood loss. It’s incredibly SÜK and worth a read. 

Something to chew on while you take your SMOKO 🐊