Crocodiles live all over the world, in Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australia. There are many kinds of crocodiles but Nile Crocodiles are the largest and most dangerous. Every year, they kill about 1000 people.

Between 1940 and 1960, most Nile Crocodiles were killed. People hunt them for their thick skin which is used for things like shoes, boots and handbags.

Since then, the number of Nile Crocodiles continues to grow and now there are between 250,000 and 500,000. 

Nile Crocodiles are the largest type of crocociles in Africa. They can grow up to 20 feet / 6 metres long and can weigh up to 1500 pounds / 680 kg. They live for as long as 45 years.

They have very thick skin and bony plates on their backs. Their legs are very short, but very strong and they can run about 10 mph / 16 kmh. That's about the same as a person! 

Nile Crocodiles also have long powerful tails that help them swim. They can swim much faster than people, around 20 mph / 32 kmh. 

They have 80 sharp teeth that can be replaced about 50 times in their lives. They have the strongest bite of any animal so once they have you, they won't let go!

Nile Crocodiles lay about 20-80 eggs at a time. The female crocodile buries the eggs in holes in the ground and the heat of the sun warms them up. The mother stays close by to look after them. The father will also be close by, to protect the mother and the eggs. 

After about 90 days, the eggs begin to hatch. The babies inside the eggs cry out and the mother hears them and digs up the eggs. When the babies hatch, the mother carefully carries them to the water in her mouth. They are about  12 inches / 30 cm long. They feed on insects and fish.

A Nile Crocodile is a good mother and looks after the babies for 2 years until they are about 3 feet / 90 cm long.

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