The western media wants everyone to believe that sharks are the most dangerous species of the water or even otherwise. We have scene lots of Hollywood movies based on shark scare like the “Jaws” series (third movie of Jaw series was one of the worst movies I ever saw) or the later “Deep blue Sea” (which was made very scary indeed) or “red water” (which I haven’t scene yet) etc. Even the discovery channel shows lots of shows about sharks. Perhaps the western culture believes or wants to believe that sharks are most dangerous animal on the planet.
But the study and statistics say that sharks are not that dangerous, sharks tend to avoid humans and very rarely attack, that too when she is convinced that the target is another fish or water creature. Wikipedia says that during 2001 to 2006, average fatality per year due to shark attack is just 4.3 as compared to hundreds of fatalities every year by crocodiles. All the species of sharks including great white, have been filmed in water without cage protection, can one dare to do so with a salt-water crocodile? 
On the other hand crocodiles, particularly salt water crocodiles are the most dangerous water species for humans because they target humans intentionally, and humans are always on their menu . Crocodiles kill annually hundreds of humans with intentional attacks without any provocation. Also the strength of a crocodile is unbelievable, it can drag a full-grown buffalo into water very easily. A salt water crocodile can grow up to 7 meters and there have been reports of crocodiles 10 m long too. And any species of shark doesn’t stand anywhere if compared with a crocodile.
Wikipedia says
“Despite their slow appearance, crocodiles are top predators in their environment, and various species have been observed attacking and killing sharks”
Wiki further says
“The larger species of crocodiles are very dangerous to humans. The main danger that crocodiles pose is not their ability to run after a person but their ability to strike before the person can react. The Saltwater and Nile Crocodiles are the most dangerous, killing hundreds of people each year in parts of south-east Asia and Africa. Mugger crocodiles and possibly the endangered Black Caiman, are also very dangerous to humans.“
Then why western culture is so obsessed with sharks? Probably because of their appearance, with round bulging eyes and big jaws, sharks look really scary, whereas crocodiles don’t look so scary if compared to sharks.
In Indian culture, crocodiles have always been considered most dangerous water species, bollywood films have also reflected it at times, and also there is a saying in Hindi “Jal mein reh kar magar se bair”.
Following is an interesting slide show of a fight between shark and crocodile, and of course crocodile was the winner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OfOvs79wDc
Note- Image is from Youtube
October 1, 2008 at 2:00 am
You know what I find Hippos cute but they are the most dangerous land animals in Africa so I have to make do with stuffed hippo toys
I guess its all an image thing. Personally I would not want to take my chances with either a Shark or a Croc but if it came to it I prefer the Shark!
If you know that little song about wanting a hippopotamus for Christmas….
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don’t want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don’t think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won’t have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door,
that’s the easy thing to do
I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too
October 1, 2008 at 10:51 am
Oh that was wonderful
Thanks odzer for that poem
October 1, 2008 at 11:31 am
I think Western concentration on sharks is basically because crocs are found mainly in Africa and Asia(including the human variety that sheds croc tears!) while sharks are abundant in Western waters( in addition to the human ones that hunt on land)
October 1, 2008 at 12:11 pm
That was funny vinod
October 1, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I think Crocodiles are abundant in North America at least Alligators and Caymans but I believe it is the cuteness factor that plays a role here. Alligators are cute for western people, sharks are not. Wally alligator is the greatest alligator in the world…..See ya later alligator!
April 13, 2010 at 5:33 am
Nile Croc would destroy most sharks. But a fully grown Nile is no match for a fully grown great white.
May 12, 2010 at 6:16 pm
please c this link which will tell you that you are wrong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Face-Off
February 20, 2011 at 7:56 am
As an expert let me clarify some things- saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodilians and are indeed very aggressive, they kill dozens (perhaps even over a hundred) people annually (primarily in New Guinea & eastern India.) The Nile crocodile grows “almost” as large as the saltwater crocodile, but kills far more people due to it’s proximity to large & poverty stricken human populations- the Nile crocodile likely kills over a thousand (perhaps even thousands) of people annually. These are the only two species well-recorded as man-eaters (i.e. hunting & eating people)….however..other species KILL people quite a bit, but rarely eat them (although in rare instances they do)…these are primarily the mugger crocodile, American crocodile, American alligator, and black caiman. The Tomistoma has only been confirmed as killing a human once (and it indeed ate the person.) Now…onto sharks- saltwater crocodiles love eating bull sharks…and bull sharks are the most dangerous species of shark to humans (they are far more aggressive than Great Whites, albeit much smaller (the largest bull shark on record was 14 feet.) Great Whites and saltwater crocodiles would never come into contact since Great White prefer temperate waters & salties live exclusively within the tropics…HOWEVER…hypothetically…if both individuals were the same size, it could go either way. The saltwater crocodile has a MUCH stronger bite than the great white (6000lbs per square inch compared to 400lbs per square inch), the crocodile has great maneuverability and hands for grasping, not to mention higher intelligence (although great whites are very intelligent)…the crocodile wins in the power department. What the great white has is a heavier body and a faster swimming speed…allowing for it to catch the crocodile off guard from below (crocodiles typically swim on the surface.) That being said…crocs seem to have no problem killing bull sharks (some over 3 meters in length.) And, for the record, I wouldn’t follow what Animal Planet’s Face Off states- these situations have played out in the wild much differently (i.e. Siberian Tigers have been recorded kill Siberian Brown Bears, etc.) and, truth be told, it could often go either way. In addition, Nat Geo often messes up stats (for example, both Nat Geo & Wikipedia state that the largest American alligator was 19 feet long…this is ridiculous and based on nothing more than an anecdotal report from the 19th century with no evidence. The largest American alligators grow is a tad over 14 feet.
March 5, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Thanks a lot Brandon for your valuable insights, it was indeed very interesting!!
June 12, 2011 at 4:20 pm
salties do eat bullsharks, and the question is what if a saltie fights a great white? but it never happen because they live in different watertempratures, so why dont we take the middle way: saltie vs tigershark…
tigersharks are bigger than bullsharks, and live in the same waters as salties.
besides the thing discovery said the bullshark is most dangerous to humans, i doubt their reasons, its most dangerous to live in freshwater and encounter ppl the most, but what has that got to do with being danger? i rather encounter a bullshark than a great white or tigershark.
crocodiles got stronger bite force and are heavily armed
sharks have more swimming ability and a more lethal bite
anyway both are great animals and should be protected at all costs, they belong to the big 7.
July 9, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Don’t Salties and Great Whites both inhabit Australia? Also dangerous isn’t just what is biggest and strongest. Most dangerous has to take in account how often humans can come into contact with the animal. There could be a 30 foot croc that can inhabit fresh and salt water, run on land at 40 mph for extended periods of time, had a 10000 PSI bite, and was able to blind prey with a poison it could spray 30 feet with accuracy. If that animal only lives in Antarctica who cares? Antarctica has like 20 scientists on it. Its not all that dangerous to humans if we have to go to extraordinary lengths to be killed by it. Also why would you want to encounter a bull rather than tiger or great white? Just because its the smallest? they will all kill you.
July 17, 2011 at 11:50 pm
saltwater crocodiles have been found with shark remains in there stomachs perhaps great whites and in bull shark wikepedia saltwater crocodiles have been well documented to eat bull sharks sometimes maybe great white an they have the hardest bite force on the planet that would crush a great whites cartalige.