croc on the path @ SBWR 08May2011

Was walking along one of the quieter paths with my boots making quite a mini-ruckus on the gravel eventhough I was trying my best not to when i looked up to see a tail disappearing off the path about 5 mteres ahead into the adjacent foliage. Instantly it occurred to me that the tail was way too broad and speckled to belong to a monitor lizard. It had to be a crocodile! I could not help but feel both surprised and shocked at the same time. Cautiously, i moved forward towards where the tail disappeared whilst looking out for the croc. It was down the embankment and near the water ready to plunge in if needed. The shade of the overhanging trees made it a bit difficult to spot the croc. One had to be looking for a croc to see it. It's speckled hide also camouflaged it very well. It did not seem bothered by a human with much less sharp teeth than it did. For good measure, it left its mouth open showing off its many many sharp teeth.

The croc must have been sunning itself soaking up the morning sun when it heard me coming. It pays to be attentive when in Nature Reserves ... and quiet.

Read more about Crocs here :
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/reptilia/porosus.htm

and a recent encounter where a much larger croc at Sg Buloh made a quick meal out of a large water monitor! :
http://budak.blogs.com/the_annotated_budak/2011/01/a-lizards-last-moments.html
http://sgn090608.blogspot.com/2011/01/110115-sungei-buloh.html