World's oldest crocodile with six girlfriends that has fathered over 10,000 babies poses for snap

The world's oldest crocodile , which has six "girlfriends" and fathered 10,000 babies, has posed for a photo as he celebrates turning 124 this year.

Henry the croc was born on December 16, 1900, and has become quite the attraction at Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh, South Africa. Known for his huge size and formidable fangs, the Nile crocodile was born in the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Botswana.

The reptile , which measures a whopping 16ft in length, has been officially recognised as the oldest croc in the world. In the early 20th century, he became famous among local tribes for feasting on young children .

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That is until tribe elders enlisted the help of renowned British explorer and hunter Sir Henry Neumann. But instead of killing it, Mr Neumann captured the beast, which was eventually named after him.

Henry, who today weighs 700kg, has spent the last 30 years residing at Crocworld. According to the zoo, he has fathered over 10,000 hatchlings and boasts six partners.

But while he holds the title for the world's oldest croc, he isn't the largest. Cassius, a star attraction at Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat in Queensland, Australia, measures over 17ft in length. He was officially recognized as the world's largest living saltwater croc by Guinness World Records in 2011. The huge reptile was captured in 1984.

Nile crocodiles are found across 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Considered apex predators, they are estimated to be responsible for around 200 deaths each year, according to National Geographic. These crocodiles can reach a maximum size of about 20 feet and can weigh up to 1,650 pounds.

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One of the unusual characteristics of this predator is its caring nature as a parent. Nile crocs ferociously guard their nests until the eggs hatch and they will often roll the eggs gently in their mouths to help hatching babies emerge.

From the 1940s to the 1960s, Nile crocodiles were hunted close to extinction but have since been rebound in most areas thanks to local and international protections. Despite this, in some regions their numbers have been depleted due to pollution, hunting and habitat loss.