Man’s warning after finding hidden underground danger

The reptile enthusiast has exposed a little-known hideout for crocodiles.

Updated 17 May 2024 at 8:31 pm·2-min read

The snout of a crocodile poking out of an underground burrow. Source: Jam Press

A reptile lover has issued a warning to both locals and tourists after discovering a massive crocodile hidden under the ground.

Andre Rocha was visiting Tabasco State in Mexico when he spotted the crocodile emerging from a hole below his feet — a little-known tactic used by crocs.

Documenting the moment, Rocha took several images of his feet standing on the ground above the predator in a burrow below. “I came across this while crocodiling in Tabasco and I wanted to share it with you,” he said before issuing an important warning about crocs in the region.

“When you are visiting areas where crocodiles are known to live, don’t only pay attention to the water,” he said. “They can dig and create tunnels that connect to where they live both in and out of the water and are almost invisible to the eye.

A crocodile is seen below the earth in a burrow. Source: Jam Press

“These underground tunnels help them hide underground while out of the water. They are found where they walk around and where they swim.”

It's understood that more than half of all crocodilian species, including freshwater crocs found in Australia, dig and live in burrows during times of environmental stress such as droughts.

Locals express surprise at hidden croc

Remarkably, locals to the region were surprised by the hidden danger, with one saying they would “never go down to the river at my mum’s house again!”

“They protect themselves from the heat, they dig holes in lagoons and can go very deep,” another explained.

"I’ve seen them entering and leaving tree trunks and caves in dried-up bodies of water,' said a third.

Crocodiles are abundant in the Mexican states of Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Chiapas, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Quintana Roo, Nayarit, Yucatán and Sinaloa.

- Jam Press

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Locals express surprise at hidden croc

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