"If they've got hold of you, poking the eyes is the only possible way you can fight back - they have thousands of years of instinct telling them this is the only vulnerable part of their body and they need to let go," Mr Cooper says.
Of the two reptiles, the crocodile would win in a face to face combat. Although the alligator is faster, here are the reasons why the crocodile would win: Crocodiles are usually bigger and heavier. Crocs have a more lethal bite due to their size and strength.
Method 1: Poke the Eyes
Try to gauge, kick or poke the eyes of the animal, and there is an excellent chance that the crocodile may release you from its hold. The croc may fight you back and try not to let you go. So, you must keep repeating your attack on its eyes until it lets you go.
Never provoke, harass or interfere with crocodiles, even small ones. Never feed crocodiles — it is illegal and dangerous. Be extra vigilant around water at night and during the breeding season from September to April. Avoid approaching the edge of the water and don't paddle or wade at the edge of the water.
There is one main weakness shared with all crocodilians. the muscles that open their jaws are relatively weak so that a pair of human hands or some duct tape can hold their jaws together.
An unarmed person and a crocodile differ greatly in terms of their morphology, size, and sheer force. Size, defenses, and offensive capabilities will matter most in a fight between an unarmed human and a crocodile. On land, humans can outrun crocodiles, but in the water, crocodiles are considerably swifter.
Pro Tip: If you spot a croc, back away slowly and try not to make sudden movements. Splashing in water will only draw attention. If a crocodile heads your way, run away in a straight line. The myth about moving in a zig-zag motion is just that—a myth.
But most large crocs can run between 15 to 22 mph (24-35 km/h). Can a human outrun a crocodile? In most cases, yes. In fact, there are limited instances where a crocodile would ever chase a human.
But despite their size and strength, there are animals that do prey on them. Man appears to be their biggest predator. Big cats like leopards and panthers sometimes kill and eat these big reptiles. Large snakes can also do a lot of damage to alligators and crocodiles.
The saltwater crocodile underlined its fearsome reputation by being the only species to exhibit agitated tail twitching followed by lunging head strikes on its opponents. “They are certainly the ugliest when it comes to aggression,” said Matthew Brien, wildlife biologist at Charles Darwin University.
“We recommend trying to poke them in the eye, hitting them in the top part of the skull or the side of the jaw. Those points are sensitive on alligators just like they are on us,” she said. In a water attack, the danger is more from drowning than the bite, Andrews said. So get to land if possible.
Bears have better senses than crocodiles, and they are stronger overall than crocodiles. Also, bears are faster on land than crocodiles. Both creatures rely on their bites to finish off enemies. Of course, their bodies are very different as well.
Sharks would kill crocodiles in a fight. A shark would win a fight against a crocodile for many reasons. A shark would have the sensing advantage over a crocodile, easily finding the other creature first.
A crocodile would win a fight against a gorilla. Most of the fights would begin in or near water, and a gorilla doesn't stand a chance in that scenario. If a crocodile bit and dragged the gorilla into the water, then it's a simple victory. The two creatures might meet each other on land, though.
Keep a safe distance if you see a crocodile. Be aware that crocodiles often will bask with an open mouth to regulate their body temperature, and there's no cause for concern if you see this behavior. Swim only in designated swimming areas and only during daylight hours. Crocodiles are most active between dusk and dawn.
In fact, gators are naturally scared of humans. When faced with a human in the wild, an alligator is much more likely to fled the area than become aggressive. Now, this does not mean humans should not be cautious around gators. Feeding them will encourage the alligator to interact and will often result in an attack.
The "winners"—saltwater crocodiles—slammed their jaws shut with 3,700 pounds per square inch (psi), or 16,460 newtons, of bite force. By contrast, you might tear into a steak with 150 to 200 psi (890 newtons). Hyenas, lions, and tigers generate around 1,000 psi (4,450 newtons).
They can sense vibrations through those. It's believed they can feel a heartbeat in the water up to 1km away.
Crocodiles will swallow their food whole if it's small enough but will use their powerful teeth and jaws to crush and break up larger prey or to splinter the hard outer shell of a crab or a turtle. Nile crocodiles like this one will eat buffaloes and occasionally people, although humans are not their natural prey.
It's just that you don't get that fishy smell you'd expect, even when you scoop a chunk of fish out of their stomach. I've often had my hand right at the esophagus, because they have a waterproof flap in the back of their mouth that you have to hold down when you put the stomach scoop in. And they don't stink.
Research shows that they do. However, their emotions are not the same as humans. We may anthropomorphize crocodiles and snakes in certain ways, but they are not conniving evil beasts. They feel fear and anxiety and contentedness, even if it is in their own way.
Presently, illegal hunting and habitat destruction are the main threats to the crocodile population (Florida Museum of Natural History, n.d.). Habitat destruction occurs in different ways, but the main threat has been humans developing in crocodile habitat.
In conclusion, I think that the only animal a crocodile genuinely fears is the hippo. Smaller crocodiles may fear larger ones due to risk of cannibalism but that's pretty explainable. Animals that a crocodile may avoid due to unnecessary risk include elephants, lions, and rhinos.