“Crocodiles may seem peaceful when they bask together, but the truce is uneasy at best. The hierarchy is built on size and strength, with the largest males at the top.
Crocodiles are swift to cannibalize each other if convenient, but won’t typically do so out of a mutual respect, they know it isn’t worth the risk. But a crocodile showing weakness, either from simply being smaller than the rest or thrashing about in pain after a brief attack like this, will trigger a predatory response and will almost certainly be killed.”