Earlier this week we featured an article on Henry the crocodile. We had no idea so many of you would love his story!
For those who haven't read it yet, you can find it here: Henry the crocodile: KZN's 125-year-old reptile draws global attention after Aussie tour visit
So seeing how keen you were to read about Henry, we decided to dig a little deeper!
Turns out the 'ol chap could give any polygamist a run for his money.
Let me break it down
Netflix’s fictional polygamist Jonasi Gomora has some unexpected competition because Henry, lives with his wives and all his children at Crocworld on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
If you thought Jonasi Gomora, the complicated businessman played by Sdumo Mtshali in Netflix’s hit South African drama 'The Polygamist', had a complicated love life, wait until you listen to Henry's piece.
The celebrity Nile crocodile at Crocworld Adventure & Conservation Centre in Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, has six wives and more than 10,000 offspring to his name at the centre alone.
At 125 years old, Henry has had plenty of time to build his family tree. But while Jonasi’s romantic entanglements have kept Netflix viewers talking, Henry’s impressive family numbers are a story of their own.
When it comes to having a big family, Henry the crocodile is certainly not playing around.
For those following the story of Jonasi, the polygamist whose family life has attracted public attention, Henry might just be another name to add to the conversation about unusually large families. The difference? Henry has been doing it for well over a century.
But before anyone starts asking how he manages to keep six wives happy, there is a more pressing question: are all six still alive?
Crocworld has confirmed that Henry himself is alive and well, following death rumours surrounding the centre’s best-known resident. However, the supplied information does not confirm whether all six of his female companions are still alive.
Wade Kilian, reptile curator at Crocworld, reassured the public that Henry is still enjoying life.
“Everyone can rest assured that Henry is still living his best life at Crocworld Conservation Centre,” Kilian said.
“He might be missing a few toes and teeth, but after 125 years on the planet, that’s to be expected! He’s happy, healthy, and ready to welcome visitors from a distance!”
Although the statement refers to Henry as 125, he is now 125, with his 126th birthday approaching on December 16.
Born in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Henry spent most of his life there before being relocated to Crocworld in 1985, when he was already 85 years old.
Today, the enormous reptile measures approximately five metres and weighs an estimated 750kg. His annual birthday celebrations include cupcakes for visitors and a much meatier treat for the birthday boy.
Henry also has a longtime companion in Colgate, another crocodile from the Okavango Delta who arrived at Crocworld in 1985. At an estimated 90 years old, Colgate is the centre’s second-largest crocodile.
While Henry’s age and size are impressive, it is his extraordinary family life that adds another layer to his celebrity status.
With six wives and thousands of offspring, Henry has built quite the legacy.
IOL