Footage of newly hatched gharials went viral after the tiny crocodilians explored a river, with some finding a perch on a parent's long, narrow snout.
Here's what to know
The video, shared to Reddit's r/NatureIsF******Lit community, drew 14,000 upvotes and 125 comments.
The original poster described the crocodilian hatchlings as "exploring the river under the watchful eye of their father." The babies crowded around and climbed over the much larger animal.
(Click here if the embedded video does not appear.)
Commenters expressed their adoration for the tiny reptiles and shared delight in their vocalizations too. "I love how most crocodilian babies make that 'myehh' 1940s gangster sound," one said.
Another added, "The sheer size and shape of their skulls and teeth is enough to tell me NU UH STAY AWAY, but those noses are begging for boops."
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Users identified the adult as female, with one explaining that male gharials have a prominent boss on the tips of their snouts. They wrote that adult males in particular face poaching threats, describing gharials as among the most endangered animals because poachers target the males' distinctive boss growths because of a cultural belief that they can be used medicinally.
Another person clarified that gharials belong to the crocodilian order and are not crocodiles.
Many commenters streamed in for the jokes, including one who wrote: "Son. You've got the whole river to explore. Do you have to stand directly on my nose?"
Where can I learn more?
Gharials aren't the only reptiles whose young have caught people's attention.
• In France, heat waves helped 10 Nile crocodiles hatch naturally for the first time.
• Florida's Python Challenge turned up mostly Burmese python hatchlings, raising concerns about invasive populations.
• In India, baby cobras appeared inside a police station, raising fears of a hidden nest.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
