Senegal River crocodile hunting techniques documented in historical records

Historical documentation from 1814 illustrates a specific crocodile hunting technique used along the Senegal River. The method relies on precise anatomical knowledge of the Nile crocodile and Sahel species, targeting the vulnerable submandibular skin beneath the jaw. Hunters would wrap their left arm in cowhide to act as a decoy, provoking a bite that allowed them to strike the unprotected area with a knife.

The visual record of this practice was part of a 110-plate collection published in London by J. H. Clark and M. Dubourg for Edward Orme. While the illustrations were produced for a European audience interested in exotic practices, they reflect a sophisticated oral tradition of hunting passed down through generations of local river dwellers.