This vaca loca (crazy cow) is taking a stroll in the midst of crocodiles in the Tarcoles river, looking down from what is commonly known as the “crocodile bridge” on the Costanera, between Jacó and Orotina.
Although we can assume that crocodile won’t say no to a tasty cow, it appears that is not the case here.
The crocodiles in Costa Rica are the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) a species of crocodilian found in the Neotropics. It is the most widespread of the four extant species of crocodiles from the Americas. Populations occur from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern Mexico to South America as far as Peru and Venezuela.
American crocodiles are dangerous to humans; attacks in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama are not unprecedented. These attacks rarely make international news, so this species is not as well-documented as a man-eater, as are its relatives.
The species is often reportedly timid, and seemingly lacks the propensity to attack people as regularly as Old World crocodiles do. However, it is more likely than the American alligator to be aggressive towards humans. In May 2007, two instances occurred within one week of children being attacked and killed by this species — one in Mexico just south of Puerto Vallarta and one in Costa Rica.
The photo was sent to us by a Facebook fan.
