Burundi Deadliest Crocodile

Introduction to Gustave00:00:08

The video introduces the largest Nile crocodile ever observed in the wild, located in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Over the past decade, nearly 300 deaths have been attributed to this man-eater named Gustave, prompting Patrice Fay and his team to attempt the dangerous capture of the giant alive.

The Setting and the Threat00:01:45

The setting is established in Burundi, specifically the Rusizi National Park and the delta where the river meets Lake Tanganyika. Patrice, a herpetologist who has lived there for 20 years, investigates illegal traps and crocodile attacks, identifying Gustave as a singular monster responsible for most human fatalities in the region.

Permission and Preparation00:06:58

Patrice meets with the Minister of the Environment to get permission to capture Gustave alive, receiving only two months to act before a potential government change plunges the country into civil war. He designs a massive, custom-built cage meant to hold a crocodile over 18 feet long and weighing more than a ton.

Assembling the Team00:10:55

Patrice recruits experts including Marco Gonswana from Tunisia and Dr. Alison Leslie from South Africa, both experienced with Nile crocodiles. They travel to Gustave's territory to assess the environment, noting the uneasy coexistence between crocodiles and hippos and the massive scale of the target animal.

The Search Begins00:15:30

The team searches the vast Rusizi Delta using canoes, vehicles, and eventually a hot air balloon to locate Gustave. They find evidence of his presence, including scars from machine gun fire and spear wounds that explain his fear of humans, confirming he is the largest Nile crocodile ever seen at over 18 feet long.

Education and Trap Construction00:20:29

While the team builds a large enclosure in Gatumba to hold the crocodile post-capture, they conduct safety programs for local students. Meanwhile, workers carry the one-ton cage four miles to the delta, scouting for a protected bank to place the trap away from the strong river current.

Setting the Trap00:30:02

The cage is finally set in place and baited with cow blood and a cow's head. The team explains that crocodiles can detect prey from miles away via smell. They prepare to sedate Gustave with flaxedil if he enters, though no one has ever sedated a crocodile of his size before.

Waiting and Observation00:38:06

A week passes with no success. The team observes a strange 'funeral rite' where hippos gather around a cow carcass. Local villagers suggest a spell is preventing Gustave from entering the cage, and Patrice considers a traditional approach alongside the scientific one.

Tragedy and New Strategy00:42:58

Gustave claims another victim despite the team's efforts, leaving only three weeks before they must leave Burundi. The team decides to build three giant pitman traps in addition to the cage to quadruple their chances of capture, though the first trap catches only a small female crocodile.

The Mystery Remains00:54:18

After the team leaves, there are no more reported sightings of Gustave and no human attacks for six months. The fate of the legendary killer crocodile remains unknown, leaving his legacy as a demon of the Rusizi unresolved.