02 July 08

Officers kill 14-ft killer crocodile

Police shot dead a 14 foot/4.2 metre crocodile after responding to an urgent request for help from a community in West Guadalcanal, a province of the Solomon Islands. The community had reported the crocodile to police after it started stalking their village in recent weeks.

“It has killed one of our pigs before and has recently been following our kids as they play near the water,” Sakaria Moso said.

http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/07/02/ramsi-officers-kill-14-foot-killer-crocodile

02 July 08

Curious croc caught crabbing

Two Australian fishermen got more than they bargained for while crabbing; a 6 foot/2 metre saltie had got into the pot through a side opening and managed to get its snout stuck.

They ''carefully'' untangled the snout and set the saltwater croc (Crocodylus porosus) on its way. It promptly swam to the nearest bank for a rest.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/07/02/4552_ntnews.html

02 July 08

Cause of S. Africa crocodile deaths

Remains a mystery

The cause behind a recent spate of more than 50 South African crocodile deaths at Olifants Gorge in the Kruger National Park is still unknown. Water analysed from sources in the area was found to contain 15 pesticides.

"The concentrations found were well below World Health Organisation drinking-water guidelines, but were in the range where possible accumulation in the food chain is possible," said an official. Low levels of phthalates -- associated with plastics -- were found both in the water column and in the sediments. Sediment of Olifants Gorge also contained traces of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons found are associated with low temperature combustion such as from veld fires or coal combustion. In addition, 18 companies mine platinum in the water catchment areas feeding Kruger's rivers

Last month at least 30 crocodile carcasses were found in the Olifants River area. Some carcasses had distinctive yellow-orange hardened fat in the tail. At the time Kruger National Park's head of scientific services, Danie Pienaar, said this hardened fat was associated with a condition known as Pansteatitisn which is usually linked with the consumption of rotten or rancid fish.

"We are not sure what caused this condition in the Olifants Gorge as there were no recent fish kills reported," he said last month.

"Crocodiles don't die in these numbers for nothing."

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-07-02-cause-of-crocodile-deaths-remains-a-mystery

01 July 08

Why Kruger crocs are croaking

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-07-01-why-kruger-crocs-are-croaking

02 July 08

More crocodile reports in Onslow

Department of Environment and Conservation officers in Western Australia are planning to conduct a night survey of the Three Mile pool on the Ashburton River near Onslow where several crocodiles are reported to have been sighted. DEC issued a public warning after a three to four metre/9 to 12 foot saltwater crocodile was seen in the Ashburton River above the Three Mile weir.

DEC Senior Operations Officer Geoff Passmore said officers would monitor the area from a boat for two or three nights to establish how many crocodiles there were and how big they are.

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/more-crocodile-reports-in-onslow-20080702-30kb.html

01 July 08

Onslow crocodile warning

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=82151

01 July 08

Crocs, Galapagos tortoise and anaconda gone

To prevent further debt

South Carolina’s Cypress Gardens, which houses what is considered to be the most diverse public collection of crocodilians in the world, is dismantling the collection as a result of a Berkeley County Council $400,000 budget cut.

“At the end of June, county council approved a budget that no longer includes Crocodile Isle and the reptile center,” according to Dwight Williams, the director of Cypress Gardens.

Once all the crocs are gone, Crocodile Isle will be turned into a garden or a reception area for the many weddings held here at Cypress Gardens.

Veterinarian Sam Seashole said he's found homes for many of the animals but it's a struggle because most facilities lack the space and resources necessary to provide the specialized care the animals require. He's taking particular care to keep many of the pairs together because the animals that breed share a special bond, and introducing a new partner could have fatal consequences.

"If we had a lot of little fuzzy things you'd have a whole bunch of people wanting to give them a place to go, but crocs are a different story," he said.

The reptiles are going to various reptile centers throughout the southeast. Some will stay in South Carolina, at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia.

http://www.wciv.com/news/stories/0608/532315.html

30 June 08

Crocs feel bite of budget cuts -

Exhibit to be dismantled

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/jun/30/crocs_feel_bite_budget_cuts46051/

01 July 08

Search continues for body after croc attack

An Indonesian search team has been unable to locate the body of a man presumed dead after he was attacked by a crocodile in the Rokan River delta area.

"We can't say whether the victim was eaten alive by the crocodile because we still haven't found the body," detective chief Amril said.

Several residents have also sought the help of mystic soothsayers and crocodile tamers to locate the victim. "Most of the local residents apparently believe soothsayers are able to locate crocodiles that attack humans, as those living along the river have been doing so for a long time," Amril said.

A friend of the man said he had been returning home with Jumadi after fishing in the river when their boat had hit a crocodile twice the size of an human adult. When the boat rocked, the man fell overboard and was immediately attacked by the crocodile.

Sepakat hamlet chief Mustafa Kamil said crocodiles had attacked and killed 19 people in the area since 1982.

http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20080701.G03

30 June 08

Crocodile surfaces in village pond

500 Patharpratima villagers when they saw a 5 foot/1.6 metre crocodile lazily floating in a local Indian pond.

Forest officials said the later-captured crocodile had floated into Krishnadaspur village pond along the tributary of the muddy Matla River. Crocodiles often look for sweet water lairs, especially when they are about to lay eggs.

http://india.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=136799

30 June 08

Abode of country's only albino croc

Gets a face-lift

India's only albino crocodile 'Gori' can now enjoy a better "home" after the Orissa government has given a face-lift to its abode in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary following concerns by reptile researchers over facilities in its habitat.

The poor health profile of the 33-year-old rare female crocodile has been a cause of concern for forest personnel.

Refurbishment work of the pool-shaped water body in which Gori is ensconced is now complete. Work has been done to maintain constant flow of saline water into the animal’s pen from the natural water-inlets from the Bhitarkanika's river system.

A few years back the state forest department had contemplated to set free the rare species from captivity after the wildlife conservationists had suggested that it should be released in the wild. But the proposal had to be shelved after apprehension was expressed at various quarters that the species in the wild might assault the intruder Gori.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200806301022.htm

30 June 08

White crocodile abode given facelift

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=9&id=237518&usrsess=1

26 June 08

Expert teach scouts alligator safety

VIDEO AT LINK BELOW

Naturalist and alligator expert Israel Dupont performed a special alligator safety program for the Little Econ Cub Scouts in Orlando, Florida, kicking of the new Living with Alligators public educational initiative only days after a local man lost his arm in a scuffle with a large aligator.

Using two alligators and props, Dupont dispelled myths and detailed aspects of alligator biology and behavior, and how it relates to personal safety.

Dupont told the Scouts to tell an adult if they see and alligator being fed.

"You may save a life, because if a gator has been fed, then it is much more likely to go after someone, especially in a neighborhood," said Dupont.

http://www.wesh.com/news/16721428/detail.html

22 June 08

Die blinden krokodile von Costa Rica

Officials in Costa Rica are studying the problem of male Crocodylus acutus going blind during mating battles over a small number of available females.

http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=3382147

21 June 08

Team called in for rapid reptile response

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, more used to handling venomous snake calls, had to respond to the presence of a small alligator in their own parking lot.

They came, they saw and they lassoed the reptile.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/578270.html

18 June 08

Toads take out crocs

Freshwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory are being devastated by the poisonous cane toad, according to a scientist from the University of Sydney.

A survey along the Victoria River, taken before and after the arrival of cane toads, shows a reduction of up to 70 per cent in crocodile numbers.

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200806/s2278420.htm