Gustave (crocodile)

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Gustave is a massive Nile crocodile living in Burundi, estimated to be 6 m (20 ft) in length and weighing around 907 kg (1 ton), he is the largest crocodile ever seen in Africa.^[1] It is important to note, however, that in parts of Asia and Australia there are several 6m (20 ft) saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) that are well known and easy to spot and that 7m (23 ft) individuals have been reported. In eastern India the Guinness Book of World Records has confirmed the existence of a 7m (23ft) individual. Therefore, Gustave is by no means an exception. He is, however, a notorious man-eater, whom is rumored to have claimed as many as 300 victims from the banks of the Ruzizi River and the northern shores of Lake Tanganyika. While this number is likely greatly exaggerated, Gustave has attained a near-mythical status and is greatly feared by people in the region.^[2]

Gustave was named by Patrice Faye, a French resident of Burundi and self-taught naturalist who has been pursuing the crocodile since 1998. Faye and a documentary team attempted to capture Gustave in 2002 using an enormous trap, but the crocodile avoided it^[3]. The ill-fated attempt was detailed in a somewhat sensationalized documentary titled Capturing the Killer Croc, which aired on PBS in May 2004.^[4]

Based on his size, Gustave is estimated to be at least 65 years old. He was sighted most recently in February 2008.^[5] He is known for the bullet scars that cover his body.

Since he is too big and heavy to catch smaller prey like small mammals and fish, he catches larger, heavier animals like wildebeest, humans, and zebra^[6].

[edit] In fiction

Gustave is the basis of the film Primeval (originally titled Gustave), which follows a news team sent to Burundi to capture a greatly exaggerated version of Gustave.

[edit] References