The story of Gustave, a large crocodile preys on 300 people

Jakarta –

The Ruzizi River and the northern shores of Lake Tanganyika in Burundi, Africa, hold the terrifying story of a giant water predator, Gustave, a male Nile crocodile feared for his reputation as a eater. Although it is difficult to determine the exact number of victims, it is estimated that Gustave killed 300 people, making him one of the deadliest crocodiles in the world.

Comment Usul Nama Gustave

The name “Gustave” was given to the large crocodile by Patrice Faye, a French herpetologist who researched and tried to capture it in the late 1990s.

Unfortunately, there is no definite information about why Faye chose the name Gustave. Most likely, the name was chosen at random or perhaps inspired by a character or person Faye knew.

Although its origins may have been humble, the name “Gustave” has now become synonymous with the fearsome crocodile and is part of the legends of Burundi and beyond. away.

The size of the Giant

Gustave has become a legend among local residents. Its large size, with an estimated length of more than 6 meters and a weight of more than 1 ton, makes it a fearsome creature. His distinguishing features are three gunshot wounds on his body and a large wound on his right shoulder, adding a frightening look to his figure.

Slow But Smart

He said Gustave was not very fast and had difficulty catching crocodile food in general, such as small mammals. So it targets slower prey, two of which are humans and hippos.

Despite this, Gustave was known as a very skilled hunter. His ability to disappear in the water and sudden attack makes Gustave difficult to catch. Various attempts have been made to catch it, including using large traps and live bait, but all have failed.

In 2002, for example, Faye prepared a trap with the help of many people, but it did not take hold.

“We put the device in the Ruzizi river, put bait in it and spent time there with the camera, but it failed miserably. He was outside the trap and we couldn’t catch him. It was very big, three times bigger than any other crocodile in Burundi.” Faye told the BBC at the time.

An unsolved mystery

Until now, Gustave is still wandering in African waters, an unsolved mystery. Its estimated age is over 60 years, making it one of the oldest crocodiles in the world.

Its presence continues to pose a threat to local residents and attracts the attention of scientists who want to learn more about the behavior and adaptability of the Nile crocodile.

In a 2014 documentary titled Capturing the Killer Croc, Faye concluded that Gustave had eaten 17 people in 3 months of research in his habitat. “I calculated that if it killed people in 20 years at this rate, it would have eaten over 300 people,” he said.

Of course, this allegation needs further investigation. Currently, it is not known if Gustave is alive or dead. It is also possible that Gustave did not kill all the people alone, but that there were other crocodiles that were also vicious. Certainly, the legend of Gustave still haunts local residents.

(African/African)