
When hiking in Costa Rica and Central America, one needs to not be so mesmerized by the flora and fauna,

that one fails to notice the crocodiles, which is actually quite easy to do, since they are so well camouflaged. Do you see them here? Looking like logs in the river?

Sometimes you won’t even see the crocs, but you will see the holes they rest in and their drag marks.

How doth the little crocodile
improve his shining tail,
and pour the waters of the Nile
on every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,
how neatly spreads his claws,
and welcomes little fishes in,
with gently smiling jaws! (Lewis Carroll)

After you come upon a croc unexpectedly for the first time, you are far more vigilant in the future!

Cheers to you from Costa Rica’s crocs~
Those crocs are scary Cindy.
Leslie xoxo
They are formidable beasts! 🐊
You meet up with the most adventurous sort of friends. Give them a hug for me.
Laughing, I will do so metaphorically Rebecca <3 🐊
Wow! They certainly are well camouflaged.
Yes, it is kinda creepy, it’s just like being surprised by an alligator lizard at The Holler, except in this case you are potential lunch! 🐊
They really are scary and I understand they can move very quickly. Good camouflage!
Yes, they are faster and more aggressive than alligators 🐊
Amazing photos! Loved the poetry too! 🙂
Thank you Bette. I love Lewis too <3 🐊
I don’t know about crocs, but a gator can make an egret disappear in a millisecond. (Shudder.)
Crocs are even more aggressive! 🐊
That camouflage is amazing! 🙂 Yes, very wise to pay attention, as you might easily come across one!
I actively look now for signs of them. I saw their marks when I was photographing the monkeys 🐊
Dragons !
Perfect for the GOT final season tomorrow!! 🐊 <3
Oh, my!!!!!!😊
That is what I said when surprised by one! 🐊
They definitely look so intimidating and especially there are a few of them near by. I can imaging if some thing happen to be in the water nearby they would rush to that so quickly.
They would. There were about 30 of them resting and swimming in this spot! 🐊🐊
Those crocodiles are scary looking. 🙂
Yes, they are 🐊
Now that looks like a lot of fun. Wonderful photos of those beautiful crocs.
It’s awesome and I love every second of it 🐊
Nobody wants to meet face to face with one of them. For the adventure, the fear would leave and for the photos, it is seen that they enjoyed their hobby in spite of the bad companies. A good Sunday for you.
True, “no one wants to come face to face with them!” I watched from across a wide river as a truly massive croc pull himself out of the river to sun in Panama a few years ago, and I saw a person hiking upon him by surprise. He pulled back in time, but I can well imagine how frightened he was. I was frightened for him! Happy Sunday to you too!
Yikes!!!
Beautiful photos but I am biting my nails 😉
I can only imagine what it would be like to have crocodiles living next to you!
definitely out of my comfort zone !!!
I suppose if you live with them, you learn how to coexist and not be lunch or dinner. Like everything, you learn to live with it.
Beautiful shots and scary crocks.
Thank you. They beautiful and scary critters!
Yikes! You are a brave person to venture into such places. Thank God you have such good eyes…! Being a photographer has advantages!
A zoom lens is a must for photographing crocogators!
Kind of scary, wide berth needed, yet fascinating at the same time!
It’s always a thrill to see wild critters including crocodiles. I remember being so excited seeing them in Africa and this lady just sniffed at me and said, “They are very common.”
Not at The Holler they’re not! 🐊
We saw a few on the East Coast, Cindy. Not so the west coast. Where were you taking your photos? –Curt
Costa Rica, but I have seen them in other parts of Central America, the most massive I ever saw was in Panama. He was a monster!
My biggest ones were on the Victoria Nile. They would slide down into the water as the boat passed, making me wonder if they didn’t have lunch on their minds. –Curt
Must have been amazing!
Yep. 🙂
Great photos! 🙂 Look at all those sharp teeth!
Amazing isn’t it, such a serious, well-equipped predator. 🐊
Gosh … you were right there! Thankfully they weren’t hungry for Cindy meat. Great share 💛😎👍
These guys seemed very well fed with fishies and not much interested in humans for lunch! 🐊
I actually love crocodiles and I can’t honestly tell you why. I’ve always admired them a lot when I was a kid. These pictures are beautiful and they are intriguing creatures. This is beautiful. I cannot wait to visit there
If you go, and want to see them, talk to me, and I will give you some places to visit.
They are beautiful, fascinating creatures…..from a distance! Awesome captures, CindY!
Yes! Exactly. 🐊
a chilling thought my dear. safe travels xxxo
I would definitely not want to stumble upon one of these guys 🐊
Crocs are fascinating and a little disturbing to me. I’m never comfortable being near them, although I have gone swimming in clear Florida lakes with crocs in the water about 30′ away!
And here I thought I was the only person who hated those Croc sandals.
I can’t stand those things either. I bet the crocs don’t like them either 🐊
Brad, I can’t believe you went swimming with them!!! Yea Gods, that would freak me out! 🐊
It did freak me out and I didn’t stay in the water long, but the water was so clear and cool from a spring that I had to go in, plus there were other people swimming in the same area. The crocs didn’t really seem to pay us any attention, but still freaky!
I hear you Brad and I know, it is weird and impossible to explain, about why you didn’t feel particularly threatened by the crocs. Some humans may have not lost an evolutionarily based ability to assess threat. Most of us have been socialized out of being aware of this. I have not been because I worked with threatening humans for decades, and they were far more dangerous than any wild animal. It almost cracks me up sometimes when people say, that is a dangerous wild animal, aren’t you scared? I am thinking wait, don’t you actually know, you are far more likely to hurt in so many ways, or killed, by your fellow human beings? I mean we are really the most dangerous and destructive animals.
Sadly true Cindy. It would be nice if we treated each other as beloved family.
<3 <3
Well, well, I’d rather not meet a croc. Love the Lewis Carroll quote.
Do crocs have anything to do with Croc Pot s?You know, I really, really hate those Croc sandals.
Thank you for his wonderful post! It’s been a Croc! 😀 xx
Tee hee hee. Everyone is weighing in on those croc shoes. They have got to be the smugliest shoes in the world! 🐊
Yikes! It is certainly not a walk on the park.
No, it’s a crocagator park! 🐊🐊
The 1st picture is beautiful. The crocodiles are scary beasts. Their jaws look so…. scary. Weren’t you scared taking their snaps ?
I wasn’t scared because I was using telephoto and was a safe distance away. When walking by rivers though, and seeing crocodiles signs, I was on high alert because I did not want to come upon one by surprise.
Ok. 🙂
<3
These shots are such a deligator! LOL! See ya later, alligator! ♡(*´∀`*)人(*´∀`*)♡
I love all sorts of crocogators, from a distance! ♡(*´∀`*)人(*´∀`*)♡
♡〜ლ(๑癶ᴗ癶๑)ლ〜♡
<3 <3
Can such creatures be beautiful? The photographs themselves are, but the the objects seem so ominous, lying there thinking only about what might pass by. I know that they think because of their eyes and how they try to hide a smile.
Many years ago I made a little booklet of poems for my dad and brothers about a sailing/camping adventure along the inter-coastal waterway between the Alabama shore and a group of barrier islands. Your photographs and the Lewis Carroll lines brought to mind of one of those poems. It’s about Gary, who came hopping back wide-eyed across the hot sand, waving and shouting because he thought he had seen a vision. If I can find it, I’ll send it along.
I very much appreciate the photography work in all your posts. It helps me travel, see, think, and sometimes remember,
What a thoughtful and interesting comment. Your comments make me happy I posted. Crocodiles have savage beauty, the beauty of nature and her pitiless power. Thank you for your very kind thoughts.
Beautiful photographs and a lovely injection of poetry.
Thank you Anne & have a wonderful week!
wonderful!
happy seeing no one
was a casualty
this time 🙂
It is a matter of maintaining distance and not coming upon them by surprise.
funny 😄 crocodele
They do look like they are smiling, but it is a deceptive smile!
Magnificent, if terrifying, creatures…
Yes, thank you for seeing their magnificence & cheers to you Emma,
Great post Cindy – I love the Lewis Carroll poem 😊
Carroll is so incredibly creative.
Omg i didnt even notice them initially!! So well hidden!! They will give serious competition to chameleons!! Nature is full of such amazing phenomena!
Great pics Cindy!! How did you manage to get such close pics? Zoomed or were you brave enough to get up so close? 🤔😰
Zoom definitely. I would never get close to these guys on purpose. The issue with them is they are silent and camouflaged, so if you stumble on them unexpectedly, you could be in serious trouble. You have to be alert by rivers and water.
I shudder to even think of stumbling over an invisible log of wood which turns out to be a ferocious croc!!!! 😰😰
I actually almost saw this happen across a river when a person nearly did this. it was terrifying.
Omg!!! That’s really scary!!! Hope that person is fine!
He was thankfully.
This is a beautiful place. Crocs are seemingly harmless and lazy creatures. In the Nile River Basin, they have caused undue misery though as a result of human-wildlife conflict. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQilRWfEMbY
I can only imagine the damage they are capable of doing. They seem lazy until they explode in an attack. Formidable.
I just watched the video. So heartbreakingly terrible that people have to walk in the dead of night on foot to fish, and get in the water at night when they know there are crocs around, so utterly dangerous and so clear that if they don’t do this, there will be no food to survive. I got your emails. I want to visit. I am thinking of 2020. I will email you.
Excellent
Thank you Derrick & be well my friend.
🙂 thanks
<3
das ist schön, liebe Cindy, auch heute wird bei mir zu Hause entspannt und ausgeruht
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund und frohe Sonnentag!
genießen wir nun das schöne Wetter
<3 <3
is this not a caiman?
Regards,
Marianna Warckie
No. Caimans are so much smaller. These were very big crocodiles. I did see caimans though.
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Splendid photos of the crocs of Costa Rica by Cindy Knoke.
Thanks to you sweet friend & Happy Sunday!
Now that’s why I would very likely not go hiking there!
You definitely need to be on alert near bodies of water.
They are amazing creatures, so ancient and so slow until you really know the difference. Wonderful pics, Cindy. xxx
Yes they look deceptively sluggish, until they explode into an attack!
xxx
I hope you were not too close to them. Love the greenery scenery.
Happy travels, Cindy!
Thanks to telephoto, I was not. Although they are around the rivers where I shot the monkeys. I never saw one, just their nests.
Amazing Croc images, Cindy. Wow, are they intimidating. Love the Lewis Carroll rhyme, too. Safe travels!
Lovely to hear from you Jane. Loved your last post!
Thanks, Cindy! 😊
<3 <3
Hope you were using your telephoto lens! – Oscar
Yes I am. I am not a kissing cousin to these critters!
Y’all be careful down there, Cuz. 🐊
Thank you cuz. I am careful. I know there is a winter storm hitting the midwest, but hopefully spring has sprung where you are. Stay warm. Winter is leaving.
Wow!
That is exactly what you say when you see them in the wild!
I’ve walked up on an alligator, but crocs are so much more aggressive!
Both of them are terrifying in this situation, but crocs definitely more so. I am glad you survived to talk about it.
Great post Cindy. Love the crocodile pics. No crocodiles here, but plenty of Alligators! Almost got eaten by one a few months ago!
You do lead a most adventurous life Gary. Good on you my friend <3
You are so right! Hard to see the Crocs at first. Let the traveler beware.
They are masters at hiding in plain sight!
Yikes, that’s some collection of teeth! Thanks for the warning, Cindy, and I do love Louis Carroll’s sense of humor!
<3 <3
Scary how many crocs are everywhere! I loved Costa Rica. Something like 20% of the country is preserved.
It is good new that 20% of it is preserved, because it is such pristine habitat. I would like to up the %, of course.
And the same for the U.S.!
Definitely!
Gorgeous photos of those sneaky, scary crocs!
Such good alliterations! They are sneaky and scary.
🙂
Hello Cindy, every time I pop in on your posts, I rediscover your love of nature and travel and I receive a shot of joy to take away with me! Sooo refreshing. Thank you, traveler lady! Have a great week. Love and hugs, xx
Love and hugs back to you sweet lady, X2! <3
Cindy, thank you for these compelling and beautiful photographs!
Thank you so much more for being such a wonderful friend Charles.
Fantastic!!!
Honored, thank you my friend.
Indistinguishable crocs
Yes. They are the masters at hiding in plain sight.
Yes 😀 nature
Yes, so amazing.
Granny sure needs some extra glasses when she ever visits Costa Rica, Cindy 😀 Great pictures! Pawkisses for a Happy Day🐾😽💞
Granny glasses are definitely on the to-pack list in croc country! 🐊🐊
Oh, I’m scared of these animals and I do not like them that way.
Trotzdem, danke für die tollen Bilder und dir und deiner Familie ein frohes Osterfest.
Ja, sie sind beeindruckende Kreaturen. Glückliches Osterfest für Sie und Ihre Familie Ernst! <3
wünsche dir einen guten Dienstag bei schönstem Wetter
Alles Gute für Sie und vielen Dank! <3
immer wieder gerne
<3 <3
Terrifying! Those eyes!!
I know! Such savage beauty. Thank you Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Oh, my! You really set a mood with this post, Cindy! I think I will watch my step, even far away from crocodile country. 😀 Beautiful photos. The first one captures the interest of my eyes, and takes them around gently meandering turns. That’s a particularly great shot. Hugs on the wing!
Love to you talented Teagan <3
Great post
Gracias~
Far more vigilant indeed!
“Caution is the better part of valor.”
Beautiful pictures of crokodiles👍
Thank you. They are savage beasts worthy of protecting.
Beautiful pictures. Crocodiles are fascinating but a little bit scary too.
Yes. Thank You Anna. They are terrifyingly fascinating.
They look fearsome! I saw quite a few in Africa and of course, Florida. Not an animal to mess with!
I saw crocs in Africa too. They are ominous creatures!
OH MY LORD. I would have to change my underwear.
Excellent shots.
Laughing…..I would too if I came upon one by surprise!
Are they more afraid of us than we are of them? Thanks again.
Eeeep! Mr Carroll, I am *not* fooled by ‘gently smiling jaws’ !! Their ‘maniacal smiles from treacherous jaws’ probably doesn’t sound as lyrical but I call ’em as I see ’em 😀 LOL ! Fake logs that rip you to pieces is unnerving ! I think I’ll meet you for coffee back in town and skip the hike. Great shots as always ! xK
I don’t blame you one bit! These are frightening predators that I only want to encounter from a safe viewing distance.
“After you come upon a croc unexpectedly for the first time, you are far more vigilant in the future!” I can see this being so! It is very hard to find them in that river shot!
And I am certain there were others I didn’t see.
Wonderful photographs, Cindy! I bet you were very wary of every ‘resting log’ after that! Thanks for reading my post. x
Yes, wary of every step I took!
Great photos and it would be hard to see the beautiful scenery but have to keep at least one eye glued on the Crocs. As for Lewis Carroll, a perfect choice. <3
Thanks Lea, it was more of a croc watch than a nature walk!
Interesting but I shall stick with the owls, flamingos… x
Yeah, crocs and France don’t really go together…
True. But I do believe there are some in residence at the African Wildlife park in Sigean which is not far away especially when it floods as it did a few years ago… 😉
Hopefully they like it where they are!
🙂 x
echt toll, liebe Cindy, nimm bitte meine besten Grüße entgegen, Klaus
Liebe Grüße und schönes Deutschland.
alles gut, prima
<3
Scary!
They are formidably scary.
Great Lewis Carroll poem with these startling and respectful images!
I love your thoughtful comment. Thank you <3
Went to Costa Rica 2 1/2 years ago & was shocked huge many & how HUGE they are, lol! 😊 But still, can’t wait to get to go back again 😊
They are gigantice aren’t they, but so silent, you could almost step on them if you aren’t careful!
That’s what I’ve heard! A long bridge over, I think, this same river was our 1st tourist stop, lol! HUGE creatures! 😊
I know the bridge you are talking about, they bask there, but they are truly all over the place…..
Well I’m hoping to go back one day & I sure as heck will be on a sharper look out for them now, lol! Thank you, Cindy! 😊
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really