Saintly reptile: Crocodile turns vegetarian

[veggiewoman]

Saintly reptile: Crocodile turns vegetarian

NDTV Correspondent

Saturday, August 26, 2006 (Kasargod):

We've all heard of celebrities who turn vegetarian as part of a fad, but here's someone who's become a celebrity purely on the virtue of being vegetarian!

A crocodile in a temple pond in Kasargod in Kerala has now shot to fame locally after news got out that this reptile has no meaty cravings.

He instead makes do with generous helpings of local boiled red rice.

The crocodile, which is approximately two meters in length, lies peacefully in a dark cave, waiting for its daily rendezvous with the temple priests who feed the hungry reptile.

Although crocodiles can adapt themselves to different situations, a purely vegetarian crocodile is unheard of.

Folklore has it that the crocodile found its way to the temple pond in 1940s and has been here since, rarely coming out and never causing any mischief.

[rantipole]

I find this really hard to believe. Their digestive system is set up for carnivory. I hope this isn't just that the people are feeding the croc a vegetarian diet. Not ever animal can be vegetarian.

Cheers,
rant

[DancingWillow]

My questions is: how do they know what the crocodile eats when it's in the pond? They're not watching the crocodile 24/7 so they can't say what the crocodile eats besides rice.

[Monday]

Exactly my thoughts Dancingwillow!

Monday x

[Hemlock]

I wonder if any priests have gone missing lately
Oh yes, and how does a crocodile eat a pile of rice with those inflexible jaws? Sideways, with the plate still attached?

Hemlock...pedant