The sound of military helicopters has been found to trigger sex frenzies among saltwater crocodiles in Australia, researchers claim.
Thunderous noises from the blades reportedly sound like the mating roar of rival males which cause the crocodiles to mate with females or summons the sound of thunder - a signal of the wet season and breeding time.
The phenomenon was unveiled following an observation at a crocodile farm in Queensland.
Koorana Crocodile Farm - located near the city of Rockhampton - is on a flight path used by helicopters travelling to and from Shoalwater Bay military training area.
The phenomenon was unveiled following an observation at a crocodile farm in Queensland
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According to the owners of the farm, every time a large military helicopter, such as a Chinook flies over, male crocodiles go into a mass "romp in the swamp".
"We had a big Chinook that came down low because the guys wanted to take some pictures of the crocodiles," John Lever, the owner of the farm, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"They were hanging out the door … and of course, Chinooks have got a big ‘thump, thump, thump’, like that.
"All of the big males got up and roared and bellowed up at the sky, and then after the helicopters left, they mated like mad."
Lever added that for saltwater crocodiles, thunderstorms act as "an aphrodisiac".
The noise and vibrations caused by a military helicopter may evoke the signs that the crocodiles pick up from an approaching storm.
"They’re probably using it as a bit of a cue to say: ‘Hey the wet’s coming’ … and it’s a good time to start mating so the eggs are ready to be laid at just the right time," said Dr Cameron Baker, a crocodile expert from Charles Darwin University.
Male crocodiles could also mistake the noise of an approaching helicopter for the sound normally made by a rival male - which makes them mate with the nearest female to exclude competitors.
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According to the owners of the farm, every time a large military helicopters such as Chinooks fly over, male crocodiles go into a mass 'romp in the swamp'
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"It might be producing a very low-frequency ‘thump, thump’ as it hits the water," Dr Baker told the ABC.
"That may just coincidentally be similar to some of the sounds big male crocodiles produce to say: ‘Hey, this is my turf'."
The farm operates tours for visitors and has a restaurant that offers croc burgers, croc kebabs, croc pies and crocodile spicy noodle soup.
