Croc gets shark for dinner

Darwin Australia -- An Australian fisherman watched in amazement -- and snapped pictures -- as a saltwater crocodile ate shark for dinner.

Paul van Bruggen told the Northern Territory News that he and his companions heard splashing and saw a shark's tail emerge from the Daly River, followed by a crocodile's head. He said that the crocodile appeared to realize that the shark would be helpless on land.

"How smart is the crocodile? It if was you or me it would be dragging you in to drown you but it takes the shark up on dry land,'' he said.

Van Bruggen had gone to the Daly River last Friday for the Barra Classic fishing competition. He said that the crocodile ignored him and his companions even though they were only about 50 feet away.

The saltwater crocodile, affectionately known in Australia as the "saltie," is the world's largest living reptile with males known to reach lengths of 20 feet. Its range includes northern Australia, New Guinea, Southeast Asia and parts of India.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.