A nature photographer was about to leave this Florida park. Then she checked the pond
Luck was on Kym Clark’s side.
The Florida-based wildlife photographer got to meet a major celebrity of the animal kingdom.
Croczilla, as the reptile is affectionately known, is thought to be the largest crocodile in Everglades National Park, and quite possibly entire state.
“This Croc has been on my herping [reptile searching] bucket list for awhile now. So excited to have finally met him!!!” Clark told her followers on Instagram.
This big boy is 14 feet long, give or take a few inches. That’s the maximum size for this species, according to the National Park Service.
Clark told the Miami Herald she spotted the “enormous” creature around sunset April 1 chilling by the park’s Nine Mile Pond, a popular spot with kayakers.
She was on her way to the exit when she decided to take one quick look back at the area where it had been spotted before. And, there he was.
“I was shocked to see the infamous Croczilla, not at a distance but immediately in front of me on the shore, basking in the sun,” she said. “It almost didn’t look real.”
Pictures and video of the thrilling encounter (she stayed about 20 feet away) are posted to her account.
In one of the shots, Croczilla has its massive jaws wide open, almost as if it were going to take a bite. But looks can be deceiving.
In the caption, the nature lover explains that the stance was not an aggressive one.
“Although this crocodile looks fierce, American Crocodiles are very timid,” she writes. “The open mouth is not a sign of aggression but usually a way of regulating body temperature or a yawn.”
Was Clark afraid? Not a bit.
She said she felt “completely safe” during her encounter with the beast, which the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission calls a “shy and reclusive” sort.
“He was very docile and loved the camera.”
Clark ends one post with a caveat and a warning:
“That being said, always keep a safe distance from crocodiles and other wildlife.”
