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Nature & Environment

Man-eating Nile crocodiles found in Florida

By T.K. Randall
May 22, 2016 · Comment icon 16 comments

The Florida Everglades have a new, unexpected inhabitant. Image Credit: CC BY 2.0 Leigh Bedford
Using DNA testing, scientists have identified at least three of the deadly reptiles in Florida's swamps.
Residents have been warned to be on the lookout as unlike local alligators, Nile crocodiles are notorious for their appetite for human flesh and are responsible for up to 200 deaths a year.

It isn't clear exactly how these three ended up in North America however it is possible that they were brought across the Atlantic by illegal collectors who later released them in to the wild.

They also tend to grow much larger than local alligators - up to 20ft in some cases.
The Florida Everglades are certainly no stranger to alien wildlife having already acquired a population of Burmese pythons which first turned up back in the 1980s.

These huge snakes, which have been breeding ever since, are now considered something of a menace as they have developed a tendency to feed on the region's own endangered wildlife.

Whether the Everglades will see a similar population of Nile crocodiles however remains to be seen.

Source: BBC News | Comments (16)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #7 Posted by GreenmansGod 8 years ago
Oh joy, just what we need. Something else for the fool tourist to feed. Big alligators will eat humans if they get a hold of one. Usually people feed them and then start seeing humans as food. African crocs are just so big it makes it easier for them to get a hold of you.
Comment icon #8 Posted by Barkinghorse 8 years ago
the Australian salt water crocodile is the largest in the world. And they do target humans.
Comment icon #9 Posted by Child of Bast 8 years ago
There are all kinds of invasive species in the US and most of them are in Florida it seems. They have a monkey colony there that is infected with a form of herpes that is deadly to humans. Wouldn't want to live there. Florida is fast becoming the Australia of the US. All kinds of deadly **** down there.
Comment icon #10 Posted by Why not 8 years ago
I wonder if they taste as good as the regular FL gator? It's kinda hard to beat Sunday football with deep fried gator tail, raw oysters, and a few cold ones.
Comment icon #11 Posted by TonopahRick 8 years ago
There is also a population of American crocodiles in Florida. I've never heard of them attacking humans though but that doesn't mean they won't if hungry.
Comment icon #12 Posted by Sundew 8 years ago
My bet is that they were smuggled here on a ship. That's how many non-native species get here. Actually, I went to a reptile show down in Florida about five years ago. And what did they have for sale? Among many other things: baby Nile Crocs. But you had to have a special permit/license to buy/keep them, which means regulation by the State regarding enclosures, feeding, etc. It is unlikely that any of these are the escapees because there is a State paper trail. However, Florida wildlife was not always so heavily regulated and also Hurricane Andrew was reported to have destroyed the Reptile Hou... [More]
Comment icon #13 Posted by Sundew 8 years ago
There is also a population of American crocodiles in Florida. I've never heard of them attacking humans though but that doesn't mean they won't if hungry. One girl was bitten in the Florida Keys by one recently, the only recorded case. She bumped into it in murky water, a few stitches but otherwise she was okay. The American Crocodile, at least in Florida, is not known to be a man-eater, But they get quite large and people feed them in places like Jamaica and Costa Rica which is not a good idea.
Comment icon #14 Posted by pallidin 8 years ago
I was born and raised in Florida, eventually left, but I've seen many crocs there, but not too close-up, mostly while I was driving by canals and such.
Comment icon #15 Posted by Eldorado 8 years ago
Not even for the shoes, bags and belts?
Comment icon #16 Posted by paperdyer 8 years ago
This helps me prove my theory in my own mind at least...The only good croc/gator is a dead one.  Now we have more reason to wipe them out.  Not very PC but not all species deserve to survive, us included as the Nile crocs believe.


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