The giant crocodile named Scarface threatens a rival eager to steal its meal, causing the smaller crocodile to flee in haste.
Scarface chases off a rival while still holding onto the carcass of a cow. (Video: Solar Whisper)
Scarface is a 4.6-meter-long saltwater crocodile that dominates a stretch of the Daintree River in Queensland, Australia. David White, the owner of the wildlife tour company Solar Whisper, often films its hunting exploits.
In the latest footage, the estimated 70-year-old crocodile Scarface drags a large cow carcass down the river. According to White, the cow died after giving birth upstream. Its carcass drifted downstream before Scarface discovered it. Despite having only three teeth left, Scarface fiercely defends its territory. In the video, a smaller crocodile approaches Scarface with the intention of stealing the prey but fails to do so.
Scarface, the estimated 70-year-old crocodile, drags a large cow carcass down the river.
“Scarface cannot tolerate any males living in that area. I wasn’t surprised to see the smaller crocodile. It was attracted by the smell of the cow carcass. But I was very surprised that Scarface was able to chase it away so effectively and quickly,” White shared.
Authorities estimate that there are up to 30,000 crocodiles in Queensland. They inhabit all rivers and streams in the northern part of the state. They often hunt along the riverbanks, waiting for prey to come close enough to attack.
Scarface dragged the cow carcass down the river for several kilometers, consuming a lot of time and energy. Afterward, it left the carcass and swam away in the opposite direction. White has tracked Scarface dragging prey several times but has never witnessed it leave food behind. Two other smaller crocodiles approached at night and fed on the cow carcass. According to White, Scarface’s intention might be to leave a meal for a female crocodile. The stomach of a crocodile is quite small and cannot handle a large amount of food at once.
