The Australian saltwater crocodile, which was endangered in the 1970s, was revived when it encountered an invasive species that may help save The Australian crocodile.
The saltwater crocodile survived in Australia for millions of years but was endangered in the 1970s. Prior to this, wild boars arrived in Australia with European settlers in the 18th century. These wild boars thrive in Australia's wetlands and swamps and are now found on 40% of Australia's landmass. The latest data show that there are 24 million wild boars in the country.
There are media reports that scientists blame these wild boars for causing habitat loss for other animals, making Australia the country with the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world. But because they are the main prey of saltwater crocodiles, some scientists believe that this invasive wild boar also contributed to the increase in the number of saltwater crocodiles.
Dr Maria Campbell, a researcher at Charles Darwin University, said: "Crocodiles will eat whatever is easiest to eat, and wild boars are the most appropriate size. Crocodiles are quite lazy hunters, if you are a crocodile, what is the easiest to hunt? Wait a few hours to catch a wild boar, or go hunt a shark, an animal that swims five times faster than you? Frank Mazzotti, a crocodile expert at the University of Florida, added: "A wild boar comes to the water's edge like ringing the bell for dinner." Some experts say the 150-pound (about 136-pound) wild boar finally met an adversary after so many years of destroying Australia's wild environment.
Dr Campbell and her team took food samples from the crocodile's body and compared them to samples from the museum 50 years ago. The analysis shows that the wild boar is the main food source for crocodiles in recent times, while it used to eat mainly aquatic organisms. Dr Campbell said she was "surprised" by the difference.
It is understood that towards the end of the Second World War, there were about 100,000 saltwater crocodiles in Australia. By 1971, there were only 3,000 left, and the species was on the verge of extinction. Therefore, the Australian government prohibits the hunting of crocodiles. Today, there are 100,000 wild saltwater crocodiles in northern Australia. Dr Campbell insisted: "If there were no wild boars in the environment, the number of saltwater crocodiles would not return to their current levels."