A male saltwater crocodile approached a female saltie — as they’re known in Australia — in the same enclosure at Australia Zoo. But then in a change of heart that wasn’t what you’d expect from one of Australia’s most fearsome predators, he appeared to think better of it. “He went down under the water and started blowing bubbles at her,” said Sonnie Flores, a crocodile researcher at the University of the Sunshine Coast who observed the interaction. It was almost like he was blowing her a kiss.”Trying to decipher what crocodiles like that one are saying is at the center of ongoing research by Ms. Flores and her colleagues to create the world’s first crocodile dictionary. If successful, it could even help prevent conflict between humans and crocodiles.

---

Persons: “, ”, Sonnie Flores, Flores Organizations: Australia —, Zoo, University of the Sunshine Coast Locations: Australia