The crocodile is one of the deadliest predators in the wild, capable of crushing its prey with its vicious jaws. We often see birds flying near these fearsome crocs. Plovers sit on the backs of crocodiles as they swim through the water. In a sign of true symbiosis, they sometimes brush the crocodile’s teeth. Reptiles do not harm birds because the strange relationship benefits both. While the crocodile’s teeth are being cleaned, the bird can easily catch fish as the reptile drags it deeper into the water.
A video of an egret flying in the water while sitting on top of a fish is doing the rounds on the internet. An account called ViralHog posted the amusing footage on Instagram. The caption reads, “The surf is up.”
The video shows an egret sitting on a crocodile in a pond, as if enjoying a free ride in the water. The bird seems comfortable around the wild reptile, and the gator doesn’t mind carrying its feathered companion on its back. The two walk across crocodile-infested water. Despite being surrounded by crocodiles, the video shows the egret in a safe habitat. According to casual observers, the bird and the crocodile may have an unspoken friendship.
The strange relationship between the egret and the crocodile has clearly piqued the interest of social media users. They have flooded the comments area with amusing responses. One user called Kroc the “Ubergator.” “Ubergator. For extreme rides,” observed another. “Hahahaha that bird is gangsta,” said a third.
The now-viral video has received over 134,000 views on Instagram since it was shared. What are your thoughts on the incredible relationship between birds and crocodiles?