Another Internet Hoax!

Yes, I received this email and photos today from a good friend. I am constantly amazed by the huge critters that are discovered especially after disasters. I assure you that most of the monsters can be only found within the celluloid films in Hollywood’s B movie libraries. OK- let’s give this an explanation. The text above the photos states:

This crocodile was found in New Orleans swimming down the street. 21 FT long, 4,500 lbs, around 80 years old minimum.Specialists said that he was looking to eat humans because he was too old to catch animals. This crocodile was killed by the army last Sunday at 3:00 pm - currently he is in the freezer at the Azur hotel. The contents of its stomach will be analyzed this Friday at 2:30pm.

My, my, how these critter stories get started. Who is gullible enough to think a hotel is going to place a 2 ½ ton gator in a freezer? Have you checked out the Azur hotel on the internet? I do believe it is far from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico!

One who is familiar with reptiles knows immediately that the photo is NOT of an American crocodile. The American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is an endangered species that lives along the Florida coast. Adult American crocodiles are 7 to 15 feet long and weigh 150 to 450 pounds. There are approximately 500 to 800 American crocodiles in Florida. American crocodiles can reach 60 to 70 years of age. They eat a variety of crabs, waterfowl, and small mammals. Decidedly less aggressive than the infamous Nile and Australian crocodiles, American crocodiles are rarely seen by people.

The pictures are real enough, but they weren't taken in New Orleans. These are pictures of the Monster Crocodile of Pointe-Noire (in the Republic of the Congo). They've been circulating for over two years. This crocodile was really estimated to be 16 feet long and weighed about 1874 lbs – far from the 21 feet and 4500 pounds stated.