Despite their menacing reputation, Nile crocodiles are devoted parents. Once the eggs hatch, both males and females spring into action to help their tiny offspring.
The hatchlings, each only around 30cm long, call to their parents from inside the nest. In response, the adults carefully scoop the babies into their huge mouths – sometimes carrying more than a dozen at once.
This behaviour might look terrifying, but it’s actually a clever way to protect the young. Baby crocodiles are at risk from predators such as birds, fish and even other crocodiles. Inside their parent’s jaws, they’re cushioned and safe as they’re gently transported to the water’s edge or to a hidden nursery pool.
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Nile crocodiles stay close to their young for weeks after hatching, and will fiercely defend them from danger. It’s a remarkable display of parental care from an animal that’s often misunderstood. Far from being cold-blooded killers, these ancient reptiles show how complex and caring wildlife behaviour can be – especially when it comes to giving the next generation the best possible start.
To get a closer look at the behaviour, researchers attached a camera to an adult Nile crocodile near Murchison Falls in Masindi, Uganda – here's what they filmed.
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