Gustave The Crocodile

After recently viewing the film, Primeval, which is loosely based on the associated title, I decided the storyline was definitely worth the necessary research. Apparently, though the number of victims is exaggerated, Gustave has a notorious bloodlust for humans. Locals claim the victim count exceeds 300. Estimated to have existed for the past 60 years, Gustave is reported as the largest crocodile in the all of Africa. The 20-foot male is occasionally sighted, and distinguished via easily identified scars, bathing along the banks of the Nile.

For crocodiles residing in the Nile, Gustave is significantly larger than the majority. However, East India, Asia, and Australia crocodiles are reported to reach lengths of 20-24 feet. Due to his size, Gustave is unable to adequately feed on the typical prey. He therefore relies on larger mammals such as hippos and humans. The only question is, exactly how many humans has the serial killing crocodile actually committed to death.

A National Geographic article details the search by naturalist Patrice Faye as the crew embarks along the Nile of war-torn Burundi. Initially, Faye was informed of Gustave after a local fisherman diving in Lake Tanganyika was eaten in 1998. Since then, the adventurer has attempted to capture the relentless, glutton responsible for the ascribed murders. Apparently, the last report sighting the crocodile was by National Geographic sources in 2008. Locals still claim to see Gustave throughout the year, though fewer fatalities have been known to occur.

According to sources, the reason Gustave is larger than other crocodiles in his region is due to the war torn conflict among the country. Apparently, creatures are allowed the necessary time to grow abnormally large because man is especially busy and engaged in social conflict, etc. Assuming this crocodile was in America, you can nearly guarantee various American hunters would have caught or eliminated the creature before this age. But then again, its amazing so few associated explorers have not journeyed to the Burundi territory in search of Gustave. Most likely, it was restricted due to fear of the war, etc.

National Geographic. Gustave, a killer crocodile (2005). Retrieved Jan 18, 2010 from http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2005/03/gustave-crocodile/michael-mcrae-text/1