The birthday of Henry the crocodile at Crocworld is typically celebrated on December 16. According to the staff at the center where this Nile crocodile has lived since 1985, he was born around 1900 in the swamps of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. This massive crocodile measures 5 meters (from snout to tail) and weighs 700 kilograms. For comparison, the average Nile crocodile grows to about 4.5 meters and weighs around 410 kilograms. Interestingly, Nile crocodiles are found not only in the Nile River but throughout Africa. They are the largest of the three crocodile species inhabiting the hot continent.
Since arriving at Crocworld, the giant Henry has mated with at least six females. Keepers estimate that in less than 40 years, this mature gentleman has fathered around 10,000 baby crocodiles.
What else is known about Henry the crocodile? In his younger years, Henry was known to attack humans. However, that dark chapter of his life is long behind him. It is known that in 1903, the British explorer and elephant hunter Sir Henry Neumann captured the crocodile, and it is to him that Henry owes his name, as reported by IFLScience.
Today, the world’s oldest crocodile shares his habitat with another elderly crocodile named Colgate, who is about 90 years old. According to zoologists, crocodiles can live up to 100 years in captivity. Scientists suggest that some of these animals may exhibit a certain degree of negligible senescence: a term used to describe organisms that show no signs of biological aging. In other words, experts believe that crocodiles, theoretically, do not die of “old age,” but rather succumb to external factors such as hunger, accidents, or diseases. However, it would be a mistake to assume that crocodiles are in any sense immortal. It is quite evident that they are indeed long-lived, especially compared to other animals of such significant size.
Many factors are associated with the long lifespan of crocodiles. Some researchers, in particular, suggest that these reptiles owe their longevity to a unique set of microorganisms that inhabit their intestines. As the authors of one study noted, “the gut microbiome of the crocodile and/or its metabolites produce substances that contribute to their resilience and longevity.”