The Zodiacs set a course through the lush mangroves in search of Australia’s top-of-the-food chain predator. Surrounded by the spiraling walls of red rock sandstone set aglow by the morning light, all eyes scanned the murky waters in search of the reptilian giant. Basking in the warmth of the sun, a well-fed saltwater crocodile emerged from the tangle of mangrove roots and branches. Weighing as much as one ton, the “salty” is the world’s largest living reptile.
From the milky waters, a scaly head emerged and took an audible breath. With a powerful tail, a second crocodile swam towards the mud bank hoping to heat up in the sun after a night of predatory debauchery. The crocodile is clearly the lord of his domain. As we eased our way through the labyrinth of mangrove trees, we looked up into the clear blue sky and discovered a raptor with a snake in his talons. Perhaps this is a reminder to even the mighty crocodile, that every predator must remain vigilant in a world of opportunists.
