Crocodile tears.... do crocodiles really cry?
Do crocodiles really cry?
Although crocodiles produce tears when they are out of the water too long, they do not actually cry... Producing tears is just a way to protect their eyes from drying out. One of the most fascinating facts about crocodiles, is the fact that they lay eggs. Even though dinosaurs have been extinct for nearly 65 million years, the crocodile survived.
Some photos that I've taken at the Riverbend crocodile farm on our lastvisit 
Why do crocodiles lie in the sun for hours?
Crocodiles are cold blooded. They lie in the sun to warm up. They can not regulate their own body temperature and needs the help of the sun to warm up their bodies to a higher temperature. Sometimes they seem very lifeless, but I would not dare to go near a crocodile just because it seems lifeless.
Crocodiles do not discriminate like humans, and if something seems edible, they will eat it!
A crocodile's jaws can apply 5,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. This means that they can bite through an arm or a leg with no problem. A human's jaw only produces 100 pounds of pressure per square inch.
Interesting Crocodile facts
- Crocodiles are mostly found in the warm regions of Africa, but also in Australia and Asia.
- Crocodiles are classified as reptiles.
- Crocodiles don't sweat.
- Crocodiles are cold blooded.
- Crocodiles are carnivores and only eat meat. The fact that small animals are not always available, they also eat live locusts (which obviously provides them with the protein that they need)
- Crocodiles crush their prey with their jaws and swallow their food whole without chewing. They eat small stones to help with food digestion.
- Female crocodiles can start laying eggs from the age of ten years.
- Crocodiles can live up to 30 years, but some crocodiles even live longer up to 75 years.
- Crocodiles can go through 8000 teeth in a lifetime.
- Crocodiles eat very little and can stay without food for almost a year.
If you would like read more about crocodiles here are some links that might be interesting to explore.
http://www.livescience.com/28306-crocodiles.html
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150721-when-crocodiles-attack
We often go to the crocodile farm as we live very close by.
This is the River bend crocodile farm - We usually go on a Sunday when the crocodiles get fed. They feed them buckets full of chickens.
Crocodiles basking in the sun ( I took this photo from about 5 meters away)
Although it is illegal to hunt crocodiles for their skin, crocodiles are farmed commercially only for their meat and skin. Crocodile meat is considered as a delicacy and exported all over the world. Beautiful and VERY EXPENSIVE products are created with crocodile skin.
One handbag can cost up to $10 000.
Thank you for reading !
If you enjoyed reading this, please follow me @giantbear.
