Robert Heigermoser technical translator (German/English), SBWR volunteer

Oh, hi there and welcome to Sungei Buloh

Why, you look surprised! Never seen a crocodile?

Ah, you mean you never expected to see a wild one, and least of all in Singapore. Well, yes, I am hearing that a lot these days.

But seriously, what do people expect to see when there are crocodile awareness signs about?

To be perfectly honest, there are not too many of us about, only two or three as rumours have it. Most of the time visitors confuse me with one of those big monitor lizards the reserve is so full of.

Let me ask you, do I look like a monitor lizard? My snout is much longer, my eyes are at the top of my head and I also have those scary-looking “dragon” scales on my back and tail and my tongue certainly does not hang out of my mouth all day long. This case of mistaken identity really gets me down. You see, I am still a juvenile, as you can tell from the yellow tinge of my skin. But once I reached my impressive adult size, nobody will mistake me to be a monitor anymore.

Now let me tell you how I pass my day. Nothing much I suppose. I have to keep my body temperature constant and not lead a very active lifestyle. Most of my time, I lie at my favourite spot along Route 1, watching telescopium shell races or letting myself be admired by those who walk through the park open-eyed while I do my thermo-regulating. On other days, when the tide is right – not too high or too low, but just nice – I slide over to the river and float motionless in the waters around the sluice gate, with only my eyes and my nostrils popping out so that nobody detects my presence there. I could spend hours observing people exclaimed ‘Crocodile! Crocodile!’ when a monitor lizard appears and there I am, smack in the middle of all the drama, and nobody sees me. Hilarious!

Having said this, it is usually the rangers or volunteers who blow my cover. Some of them know my whereabouts rather well. Not that I am so bothered because I get to see all kinds of expressions and incredulous looks. Yes, I’m certainly having a good time here at the reserve.

Well, its time to go and get myself some fish for dinner. Thanks for the surprised look on your face - it made my day!

I have a reputation as a wild and dangerous animal. I may inflict a nasty bite if provoked. Unless you want to be my lunch, you would
- stay on the visitor trails and not venture into the mudflats
- heed the crocodile warning signs
- not feed me
- not provoke me

A note on visitor safety: The estuarine crocodile inhabits the mangroves of India, South East Asia and Australia. Please be aware of the crocodile warning signs around the Reserve.