Who is Henry? World's oldest crocodile, who has fathered 10,000 babies with six partners

A massive 16-foot, 700 kg

Nile

crocodile named

Henry

, has been officially recognised as the world's

oldest

crocodile at 123 years old. The

crocodile

has fathered over 10,000 offspring with his six mates, according to the zoo where he inhabits.
Henry, known for his big size and fearsome fangs, is nearly equivalent to that of a minibus. He was born on December 16, 1900, in the Okavango Delta,

Botswana

, a

Unesco World Heritage Site

.

Lifetime in captivity
In the early 1900s, Henry was believed to have preyed on children from a local Botswana tribe. Frustrated with his deadly behavior, the tribe sought the help of renowned hunter Sir Henry Neumann in 1903. Instead of killing Henry, Neumann opted to capture him, sentencing the crocodile to a lifetime in captivity.

Life at Crocworld Conservation Centre
Henry has spent the last thirty years at the Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh, South Africa. He is admired from a safe distance at the conservation centre, far removed from his violent past.

Nile crocodiles: A fearsome species
Nile crocodiles, found across 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, are known for their aggressive nature. These apex predators inhabit various aquatic environments, including lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshes. Known for their brutality, Nile crocodiles often prey on animals such as zebras and porcupines. Tragically, hundreds of people fall victim to these formidable predators each year.

Cassius: The largest crocodile
Although Henry holds the title of the oldest crocodile, Cassius, a 16-foot saltwater crocodile from Australia, is known as the largest. Captured in 1984, Cassius is a prominent feature at the

Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat

on Green Island, off the coast of Queensland. In 2011, he was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest living saltwater crocodile.