Surf’s up for crocodiles

CROCODILES can surf ocean currents to take long leisurely journeys across open seas in the South Pacific, according to Australian research.

A group of ecologists has found that, despite having little swimming stamina, estuarine crocodiles – which can grow up to 20ft – can ride currents to cross hundreds of kilometres of open sea. Their motion is like a surfer catching a wave, study author Hamish Campbell said.

Campbell was surprised that eight of the tagged crocodiles repeatedly took long journeys out to sea from their river home area that was more than 60km upstream.