#1 Nile crocodiles
Nile crocodiles were discovered recently in Florida, which is a bit concerning considering they are known to eat humans. The Nile crocodiles are man-eaters, which means besides eating big mammals in the wild, humans are actually considered prey for these reptiles.
#2 Man-eating crocs
According to NDTV News on May 21, three Nile crocodiles were found in the wild and DNA has confirmed that these are the same crocs usually found in South Africa. The crocodiles grow bigger than the state's alligators, as the Nile crocs can grow to 20-feet long and weigh as much as a small car. Their home is on the continent of Africa and they do not belong in Florida.
#3 They see humans as prey
As far as their man-eating tendencies, between 2010 and 2014 Nile crocodiles attacked 480 people, killing 123 in those attacks in South Africa. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that Nile crocodiles preying on humans in South Africa has been well documented since the 1950s.
#4 The researchers found three juvenile Nile crocs
From 2000 to 2014, the team studied populations of crocodiles in Miami-Dade County and Hendry. Using DNA analysis, the researchers found three juvenile Nile crocs, two of which were found swimming in the Everglades and the other just relaxing on a house porch in Miami. Krysko said:
"The odds that the few of us who study Florida reptiles have found all of the Nile crocs out there is probably unlikely."
#5 Crocs were probably brought illegally to the U.S.
While researchers don't know how these crocs got from South Africa to the Florida wild, they have their theories, according to MSN News today. Krysko said that one thing they do know, the Nile crocodiles certainly didn't swim from Africa to Florida.
He believes these crocodiles were probably brought to the U.S. illegally by unlicensed collectors. Once here, they either escaped or people let them go into the Florida wilderness.
#6 They were genetically very similar
The DNA for the three Nile crocodiles are a match, indicating they came from the same batch of crocs. This indicates the three probably came from the same source. They can thrive in Florida's climate and according to scientist these crocs grow quickly. They are known to swallow large mammals whole, or if they are too large, they tear them down to size with their teeth.
