It's not every day that people see a crocodile just chilling in the water, like the A-lister Scarface of Daintree River in Queensland. David White, the owner of the Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruises, filmed the 14.5-foot (4.4-meter) crocodile relaxing in the creek. According to him, Scarface is a gangster among the crocodiles in the creek. He received the moniker because he has many scars on his face.
Experts and authorities remind the public not to swim near Scarface or any crocodile that seems to be sleeping because they are still dangerous. It is best to stay on the boat and observe them from afar to avoid any incidents.
All Hail the King! 14.5-foot A-Lister Saltwater Crocodile Known as Scarface Spotted Relaxing in Queensland Creek
Meet Scarface: The Irresistible Mega Star Crocodile in the Daintree River
White told Newsweek that Scarface is the boss crocodile of the Daintree River. He and his company have been watching and monitoring the massive crocodile for over two decades.
White's company projects the wildlife they help tourists see on their cruise in a fictional soap opera they call The Days of Daintree. He said that the wildlife in the river are the celebrities in which they try to find gossip on A-lister's breakups, makeups, fashion, and food. Scarface is a megastar and the number one A-lister of this fictional soap opera and White is a huge fan.
He said that enormous crocodiles, such as Scarface, are only dangerous to humans if they do not follow the safety advice. He reminded the public that crocodiles are wild predators and react according to how people behave around them. If people swim near them or make a poor choice, crocodiles will likely attack or eat them. But they usually ignore the boats and pose no harm to people.
Scarface may be one of the dominant saltwater crocodiles in the creek, but he still faces competition from the other male crocodiles. White said that not all baby crocs in the river are his, especially since his girlfriends also entertain other guys. DNA tests showed that female nest might have up to three different fathers and Scarface may not know about this.
As a saltwater crocodile, Scarface's usual hangout places are the coasts and water systems in northern and eastern Australia. They eat large prey, such as fish, birds, cows, buffalo, boar, and humans. They can grow up to 20-feet and weigh over 2,200 pounds.
Daintree River Crocodile Population
Although history suggests that crocodiles are extremely large, travel website Destination Daintree said that the largest crocodiles found in Australia are usually between 16 to 19 feet (5 to 6 meters) long.
There are about 70 adult crocodiles in the Daintree River, with the largest one measuring 16 feet (5 meters) long. Most females could reach up to 11.4 feet (3.5 meters), while experts documented seeing many juveniles and hatchlings in the area.
The river has become well-known for its success in crocodile-spotting in the last 30 years and it is also accessible, being only one and a half-hour away from the international airport in Cairns. Tourists love visiting these large predators and are often fascinated by them. Since the 1970s, the animals have become used to the boats and by leaving motor engines running, boats can get a closer look at crocodiles from 32-49 feet (10-15 meters) away.
However, experts said that the population of the crocodiles in the creek is of low density due to prolonged hunting over the years. In 1974, the crocodile population in the Daintree River was alarmingly low and legislation was introduced to protect them. Since then, their numbers have slowly come back to the sustainable level and today, they are still breeding successfully.
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