New research indicates that crocodiles may be attracted to the sounds of crying infants. Nile crocodiles were observed reacting to the distress cries of baby bonobos, chimpanzees, and humans, with the degree of distress influencing their response. The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, revealed that these large semi-aquatic reptiles appeared to be drawn to higher levels of distress in the cries.

Conducted at Crocoparc in Agadir, Morocco, the study played audio recordings of crying infants through loudspeakers to approximately 300 Nile crocodiles. The more distressed the cries, the more pronounced the crocodiles' reactions. While these reactions might seem predatory, the researchers suggested they could also indicate a maternal instinct in female crocodiles.

The researchers compared their findings with a similar study involving humans, revealing differences in how distress is perceived. While humans focused on pitch, crocodiles responded to factors like "deterministic chaos, harmonicity, and spectral prominences." This ability allows crocodiles to recognize distress levels even in species distantly related to them.

Nile crocodiles, known to reach lengths of around 20 feet and weighing up to 1,650 pounds, inhabit regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar. Their proximity to human populations leads to occasional encounters, potentially resulting in fatalities. Despite the intriguing findings, the research reminds us that crocodile behavior is complex and multifaceted, shaped by a combination of factors.