What are the predators of crocodiles?

 By crocodile we are referring to only Crocodiles ( genus - Crocodylus), since Crocodilian family includes Crocodiles, Alligators and Gharials.

Some Crocodiles like Saltwater crocodile and Nile Crocodile are the largest large semi-aquatic reptiles alive today.

A fully grown 19.7 to 23 foot long, 2200 to 3500 pound fully grown Saltwater crocodile has almost no natural predator. Same for a 18 to 20 foot , 1500 to 2500 pound adult Nile Crocodile. Only predator of a large Saltwater crocodile or Nile Crocodile is another large rival crocodile. Crocodiles are feared for their massive jaws capable of huge bite force.

So what are the crocodiles’ natural enemies? -

Humans are the primary natural enemies of Crocodiles because till late 1970’s most of Crocodile population in the world was descimated by us for trophy hunting and their valuable armoured skin or hide.

If we are considering small and medium sized crocodiles. Bengal Tigers are threat for Mugger Crocodiles and medium sized Saltwater crocodiles especially in Indian subcontinent and parts of Sundarbans in Bangladesh. Mugger or Marsh Crocodiles are the most widespread of all crocodiles in India so they regularly confront Bengal Tigers. Indian rock python or Indian Tiger python too is natural enemy of Mugger Crocodile.

In some parts of Asia including India, Burmese pythons are also primary rivals of Saltwater crocodiles

Bulls sharks and Tiger sharks are also threat for medium sized Saltwater crocodiles in coastal waters.

In many parts of Northern territory of Australia, Sawfish and Bull sharks are primary rivals of Saltwater crocodiles.

Hippos and African Lions are primary enemies for Nile Crocodiles in Nile basin of Africa. Hippos are some of the few animals in African ecosystem that are capable of driving a fully grown Nile Crocodile from it's territory African Rock Pythons are also known to be rivals of Nile Crocodiles.

In Zambezi river, Bull sharks also known as Zambezi river sharks are primary rivals of Nile Crocodiles but are not match for these huge reptiles.

In Florida Everglades, American crocodiles face competition with invasive Burmese Pythons.

In parts of Amazon river basin, Amazon river systems particularly in Orinoco basin, endangered Orinoco crocodiles are rivaled by Giant Anacondas.

Why do we dive with sharks but not crocodiles?

 Well, Great White Sharks are predictable animals. As much as they’re apex predators, they’d pretty much avoid us . Furthermore, humans are not their intended prey.

Divers swim close to sharks more often than crocodiles.

As large & strong sharks can be, they do not view humans as prey.

Furthermore, the interaction with sharks & humans occurs more frequently than that of crocodiles.

On top of that, sharks are picky eaters. They usually prefer large marine mammals especially those that are rich in fat & blubber. In other words GWS prefers pinnipeds such as: seals, sea lion, walrus & medium sized bull elephant seals.

These animals are the ones that provide extremely high calorie intake for sharks .

Crocodiles{on the other hand} are far more unpredictable. Unlike sharks, they’re not picky eaters & will viciously attack any ungulate{wildebeest, zebra, common eland, cape buffalo, waterbuck, sable, greater kudu} that’s gets to the water’s edge for a drink.

Moreover, crocodiles frequently engage in man-eating than sharks. They tend to view humans as prey & will not hesitate to grab hold of a human drag into deeper water to drown it & use the deathroll technique to tear the victim apart & afterwards gobble it up.

There’s a very good reason as to why humans avoid croc-infested waters.

Swimming in a croc-infested water puts you at a risk of getting drowned, pulverized & killed by a crocodile. Btw, crocs have the ability to leap out of water. So, hiding on top of a tree especially one that has lower branches puts you a risk of getting pulled away & dragged into far deeper water by a crocodile.

Even medium sized birds aren’t safe from this.

More so, crocodiles kill more humans than sharks. About 2,800 humans die each year from crocodile attacks.

The relationship between humans & crocodiles is separated by a thin line. In fact, when crocs grab hold, they never let go.

So… those are some of the reasons as to why humans dive with sharks but not crocodile.