Horror scene on river bank as ‘crocs’ invade

A troubling video of a crocodile “invasion” has gone viral – but not everything is as it seems

Spine-tingling footage showing hundreds of crocodiles “invading” a Sandy Beach in South America has gone viral online, but major questions have been raised.

The footage, which was first shared on Twitter by user @RAF_Valerie on Tuesday, shows hundreds of the large reptiles packed onto a skinny beach like sardines.

The caption read: “In Brazil, an invasion of crocodiles that have flooded one of the beaches with several hundred, even thousands, and the local population is panicking. Are the animals worried about something? A volcano or an earthquake is preparing?”

The footage quickly went viral racking up almost 10 million views, sparking questions about the legitimacy of the croc “invasion”.

🇧🇷🐊 In #Brazil, an invasion of #crocodiles that have flooded one of the beaches with several hundred, even thousands, and the local population is panicking.

Are the animals worried about something? A #volcano or an #earthquake is preparing?😰👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/m8W05HDSli

— Attractive Patriot (@RAF_Valerie) September 13, 2022

Fact checks by internet sleuths, including news site Newsweek, have since picked apart the video, exposing it as a potential hoax.

Newsweek said the almost every detail may, to some extent, be incorrect or misrepresented.

Citing a Canadian zoologist, it’s believed the reptiles many not be crocodiles at all but rather caimans, more closely related to alligators.

As for the beach, lifestyle publisher Brobible,said rather than a “touristy beach”, the footage was actually from a riverbank in Brazil’s Pantanal Wetlands.

“The viral video showing a ‘Crocodile Invasion’ in Brazil that has the locals ‘panicking’ is just a cool nature video that’s being mischaracterised.” the article read.

And the footage isn’t new. It first emerged on Instagram, posted by Brazilian fishing company Pantanal Pesca, almost a month ago.

“I think there’s a little water in this alligator,” the post translated to English said – without the concern of more recent posts.

Crocodiles filled on a Brazilian “beach” are actually believed to be caimans. Photo: Twitter

… and sleuths claim it’s not a beach, but rather, a riverbank. Photo: Twitter

As for the occurrence, the sleuths claim it’s not unusual.

World Wildlife Fund says the Pantanal Wetlands is the habitat for approximately 10 million caimans, suggesting a congregation of this size wouldn’t be uncommon.

There was also no evidence to suggest any volcanic action or earthquakes in the area.

While the fine details around the video might not be entirely legit, the impressive spectacle still caught the attention of million in awe of the reptiles.

“They’re on vacation,” one joked.

“Beach day!” wrote another.