Henry is a male Nile crocodile at Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh, South Africa. Crocworld believes he is the oldest known Nile crocodile in captivity, based on an estimated birth around 1900—but his exact age is unknown. Crocodiles continue growing as they age, but available reporting does not show that Henry’s length has been measured increasing recently.
Henry has lived at Crocworld since 1985. The centre has reported him at about 5 metres long and estimated his weight at 750 kilograms in 2023; Live Science reported 700 kilograms in 2024. These are attributed estimates, not precise or directly comparable measurements.
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Who is Henry the crocodile?
Henry is a male Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) living at Crocworld Conservation Centre on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. Crocworld marks his birthday on December 16.
Crocworld estimates that Henry was born around 1900, but his exact birthday and age are not known with precision. The centre described him as turning 124 in 2024. Live Science reported that he was captured in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in 1903; Crocworld’s 2023 account also places his early life in the Okavango Delta. The available sources do not document every year before he moved to Crocworld.
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Keep the superlative qualified: Crocworld believes Henry is the oldest known Nile crocodile in captivity. The sources do not establish a universally verified record covering every captive and wild crocodile.
How old is Henry?
Using Crocworld’s estimated birth year, Henry was about 85 when he moved to the centre in 1985. The dates and claims below come from different reports and do not amount to an independently verified age record.
| Date | Reported event or age | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Around 1900 | Estimated birth | Crocworld’s estimate reported by Live Science; exact age and birthday are unknown. |
| 1903 | Reported capture in Botswana’s Okavango Delta | Live Science report; Crocworld’s 2023 account also places his early life in the Okavango Delta. |
| 1985 | Moved to Crocworld at an estimated age of 85 | Crocworld’s account. |
| 2023 | Reported as 123; about 5 metres and an estimated 750 kilograms | Crocworld’s reported figures. |
| 2024 | Described as turning 124; about 5 metres and 700 kilograms | Crocworld reported the birthday estimate; Live Science reported the size and weight. |
Biologist Steven Austad told Live Science, “Whether he’s 100 or 130, we don’t really know,” adding that an age of 124 is not inconceivable for a crocodile. This is expert context about uncertainty, not an independent determination of Henry’s age.
How big is Henry?
Reports put Henry at approximately 5 metres long. Crocworld estimated his weight at 750 kilograms in 2023, while Live Science reported 700 kilograms in 2024. The sources do not explain the difference or provide a weighing protocol, so do not treat either figure as an exact current measurement or average them.
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These are reported estimates attributed to their publishers, not independently audited measurements. They indicate that Henry is a large crocodile, but the available evidence does not establish that he is the largest Nile crocodile ever recorded.
Why does Crocworld say Henry is still growing?
Crocodiles continue growing as they age, according to Live Science’s report. That species-level statement does not show that Henry himself has recently grown longer: the evidence reviewed contains no repeated, standardized measurements demonstrating a change in his length.
So “still growing” should not be read as a claim that Henry is rapidly adding length every year, or that his growth follows a known rate. The sources do not establish a specific rate or demonstrate Henry’s ongoing individual growth.
What does a Nile crocodile eat?
Nile crocodiles are aquatic predators with a broad diet. Depending on habitat and opportunity, they may eat fish, turtles, reptiles, birds, carrion, and mammals. They can ambush prey while remaining partly hidden in the water.
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The species occurs across much of Africa in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other suitable aquatic habitats. Henry’s story should not be used to sensationalize him as a current threat to people. He is a managed animal at a professional facility, not a pet; crocodiles in the wild should never be approached.
How many crocodiles has Henry fathered?
Crocworld reported in 2023 that Henry had fathered more than 10,000 offspring at the centre. This is the institution’s reported total, not an independently audited count. The figure describes his time at Crocworld; the available sources do not establish whether he is still breeding.
How long has Henry lived at Crocworld?
Henry moved to Crocworld in 1985. The centre’s account said he arrived at an estimated age of 85. Crocworld reported in September 2023 that he was “happy, healthy, and ready to welcome visitors – from a distance!” That is a statement about his status at the time, not a current medical assessment.
His long residence is a documented part of his story, while his earlier chronology remains approximate. Live Science reported his capture in the Okavango Delta in 1903, but the sources do not fill in every year between then and his move to Crocworld.
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Is Henry the oldest crocodile in the world?
The careful answer is: Crocworld believes Henry is the oldest known Nile crocodile in captivity. That is an institutional claim, not a universally adjudicated record. His exact age is uncertain, and the sources reviewed do not establish a record covering every crocodile in captivity or in the wild.
Keep the qualification attached to the claim: Henry’s birth around 1900 is estimated, and the available sources do not provide an exact birth record or independent verification of his age.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Henry the crocodile?
Crocworld estimates that Henry was born around 1900 and marks his birthday on December 16. The centre described him as turning 124 in 2024, but his exact age is unknown. Live Science quoted a biologist who said his age could be 100 or 130; that is context, not a precise age determination.
How big is Henry the crocodile?
Reports describe Henry as about 5 metres long. Crocworld estimated 750 kilograms in 2023, while Live Science reported 700 kilograms in 2024. These attributed estimates are not directly comparable precise measurements.
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Was Henry captured in Botswana?
Live Science reported that Henry was captured in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in 1903. Crocworld’s 2023 account also places his early life in the Okavango Delta. The sources do not document every year before he moved to Crocworld in 1985.
Do crocodiles keep growing throughout life?
Live Science’s report supports the general statement that crocodiles continue growing as they age. It does not show that Henry’s length has been measured increasing recently, or establish a rate for his individual growth.
How many offspring has Henry fathered?
Crocworld reported in 2023 that Henry had fathered more than 10,000 offspring at the centre. The figure is attributed to the institution and is not independently audited in the sources reviewed.
The Bottom Line
Henry is a Nile crocodile at Crocworld who moved there in 1985. Crocworld estimates his birth around 1900 and believes he is the oldest known Nile crocodile in captivity, but his exact age is uncertain. Reports put him at about 5 metres long, with differing estimated weights; crocodiles continue growing as they age, but the available evidence does not demonstrate recent growth in Henry himself. Crocworld’s figure of more than 10,000 offspring is also an attributed institutional report.
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