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The

CROC PRESS

 Regular coverage of crocodilians and people 

in headlines worldwide. 

Wes von Papineäu, News Page Editor

Email: crocnews@crocodopolis.net

_________________________________________________

Week of 27 January 08

"Crocodiles broaden smiles of Thai entrepreneurs"

Check out this week's Croc TV featurette.

01 February 08 

Crocs kill three near Zambezi

Three people were killed while two others were seriously injured while bathing when they were attacked by crocodiles in central Mozambique.

Authorities had embarked on awareness programmes to warn people on the danger of bathing in the flooded rivers, which are infested with crocodiles.

In October last year, authorities of Chemba district said that since the beginning of 2007 they had collected more than 13,000 crocodile eggs before they hatched as a way of combating human-animal conflict.

http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=696828

01 February 08 

Crocodilos matam e ferem em Chemba       

Três pessoas perderam a vida e outras duas ficaram gravemente feridas ao serem atacadas por crocodilos nas margens do rio Zambeze e seus afluentes, no distrito de Chemba, norte de Sofala. http://www.zambezia.co.mz/content/view/3814/2/

01 February 08  

A Crocodile walks into the pub

So this crocodile walks into a pub and orders a Schnapps. Boom, boom.

Henry the captured croc gave drinkers at the Cockatoo Island Club a scare one evening, many moons ago when he decided to go ‘walkabout’ from his under-veranda pool.  Have meeting up with workers departing a pub, the reptile continued his promenade, ate a flock of pet ducks and flopped back into his pool under the stairs.

So what would a crocodile order if he went to the pub?

Schnapps, a croctail, blue lagoon croctail, bloody mary, gater-ade, shooter, scot on the rocks, wild turkey, a man-hat-on, a fluffy duck - for the missus, a dog bolter, a swan lagar, it wouldn't be a VB because Victorians are bitter, and if it was an Aussie croc it would order a Bloody Beer.

http://www.abc.net.au/kimberley/stories/s2152265.htm?backyard

31 January 08 

'Missing link' croc displayed in Brazil

The 80 million-year-old remains of a land-bound reptile described as a possible link between prehistoric and modern-day crocodiles were displayed to the public for the first time in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The 5.5 foot/1.7 metre, long-limbed and extremely agile predator, dubbed "Montealtosuchus arrudacamposi," roamed arid and hot terrain that is now Brazilian countryside.

"As a missing link to prehistoric crocodiles, it offers us an excellent opportunity to study the evolutionary transition of these animals," paleontologist Felipe Mesquita de Vasconcellos said. "It has a mix of morphological traits common in prehistoric crocodiles and in the ones that exist today."

Details of the discovery were published in October 2007 in Zootaxa, a peer-reviewed scientific journal based in New Zealand.

http://www.examiner.com/a1193970~_Missing_Link__Croc_Displayed_in_Brazil.html?cid=sec-promo

30 January 08

Rom Whitaker: Still hooked on herps

Presented with the 2006 Sanctuary-ABN AMRO Lifetime Service Award, herpetologist and conservationist Rom Whitaker has been largely responsible for making reptiles and amphibians more acceptable to humans who usually recoil at the very thought of a snake, crocodile or lizard. What follows are excerpts from an interview.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.phpclid=18&theme=&usrsess=1&id=188092

31 January 08 

Croc allowed to stay on golf course

This is an update to "Croc poses danger for Qld golfers" below: A crocodile who has taken a preferred lie in a water hazard on a Australian  golf course is allowed to stay.

Because he poses no threat to players, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service today decided he could remain in the lake until he chooses to move on.

Unlike saltwater crocodiles, freshwater crocodiles are not regarded as a threat to humans.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23138363-29277,00.html

30 January 08 

Gator-hunting bill crawls past panel

Update to the "Alligator hunting gets nod from South Carolina lawmakers," below: Gator hunting might begin this fall, if South Carolina lawmakers swallow legislation allowing some alligators to be shot without being tied off first.

The hunting bill now carries a controversial amendment to allow private owners of large tracts to shoot the reptiles, then go after them. That's in contrast to the proposed hunting permit for individual hunters, which requires tying off the alligator with a line before it is killed.

The state Department of Natural Resources estimates that more than 100,000 alligators now roam the South Carolina coast.

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/jan/30/gator_hunting_bill_crawls_past_panel29041/

30 January 08

Croc poses danger for Qld golfers

A two-meter crocodile that has taken up residence at a north Queensland golf course has given new meaning to the term "water hazard."

The Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service is planning to remove what is believed to be a freshwater crocodile (Johnston's Crocodile, Crocodylus johnsoni) found swimming in a water hazard at the Willows Golf Course Thuringowa, outside Townsville.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/30/2149531.htm?section=australia

29 January 08

Crocs moving in to flooded Rockhampton

A mass of displaced saltwater crocodiles (Indopacific crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus) are headed for Australia's flood-hit Rockhampton — and experts are warning they could stay as long as three months.

Rising floodwaters from the Fitzroy River are expected to peak at eight metres on Thursday morning, bringing with them as many as 60 crocodiles from upstream.

Crocodile expert John Lever said the floodwaters would probably sweep a number of reptiles — especially the young — away from their current habitat.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=372506

29 January 08

Dead croc found stripped in Pakistan

KARACHI, PAKISTAN: A partly skinned crocodile was found lying in the bushes by the road on Khayaban-e-Khalid near Sunday Bazaar in DHA Ph VIII.

“It has been lying here for the last two days and the dogs have been eating it,” said a bus driver whose stop comes near the stop. The reptile appears to have a deep wound on its snout.

Abrar Mirza, a former Sindh wildlife secretary, said that it could have been hunted down for its skin. “The skin of an average, six-foot long crocodile costs about Rs 4 million,” he said. “I am not aware of today’s prices but in 2004 when I was serving as secretary, illegal traders had set the price of a crocodile skin at Rs 3,500 per square inch.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C01%5C29%5Cstory_29-1-2008_pg12_2

28 January 08

PNG's love-struck crocs face cull

Police on the northern PNG island of Manus asked licensed firearm holders to form a hunting party after mating crocodiles killed one man last week.

Earlier in the month, a youth from nearby Kali Island was diving with friends when he was attacked by crocodiles.

Manus administrator Wep Kanawai told PNG's Post Courier the cull was necessary as the reptiles were breeding in great numbers and causing harm to villagers.

http://news.theage.com.au/pngs-lovestruck-crocs-face-cull/20080129-1oqm.html

28 January 08

Official: Crocs in Santo Domingo rivers

SANTO DOMINGO.- Environment minister Omar Ramirez yesterday that "years back it wasn’t strange to see the presence of crocodiles in the country’s rivers," when there was a certain number of them, and confirmed the presence of at least two reptiles in Santo Domingo’s rivers.

Ramirez said Dominican Republic is one of the few countries where, until they appeared two months ago in the Ozama and Isabela, there were no crocodiles in the rivers.

He said Semarena plans to capture alive the crocodiles which have come to the rivers Ozama and Isabela after the rivers swelled their banks during Tropical Storm Noel, using special darts to immobilized them.

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/1/24/26810/Its-official-top-official-says-crocs-are-in-Santo-Domingos-rivers

28 January 08

Alligator hunting gets nod

From South Carolina lawmakers

The bill passed the Senate last year but stalled in the House over a requirement that the animals first be snared and restrained before they are killed.

For regular hunts, that is still the case, but private property owners who get special permits to remove alligators when their population is too high will not have to restrain them first.

Regular hunts will be for people who win a drawing. Department of Natural Resources officials said they are not sure yet how many people will get permits to bag a gator.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/325361.html

28 January 2008

Hunter nabs dog-killing alligator

An alligator hunter has caught one of two gators believed responsible for killing a dog and attacking two others in a retention pond beside a dog-walking trail behind a Home Depot on Jan. 13.

Rick Kramer said he and a helper captured the 8-ft/2.4 m, 250-lb/113 kg alligator Wednesday morning in the area of the pond south of Linton Boulevard near Interstate 95. The alligator was hooked on a chicken bait Tuesday night.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpgator0124pnjan24,0,5739865.story

28 January 08

Darwin sewage croc flushed out

Authorities in Darwin have flushed out an unwanted resident from the local sewage ponds.

A 2.6 m/8.5 ft crocodile had been feasting in the shadowy, fish laden waters of the Leanyer Sewage Ponds, threatening the safety of workers and local bird-watchers.

Authorities were recently forced to close the pond as they tried to lure the crocodile into their trap. But until today, the lure of chicken and meat had not been enough to catch the rogue animal.

STORY & VIDEO:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/24/2146078.htm?site=darwin

28 January 08

Manila Zoo problem:

Too many crocodiles

MANILA, Philippines -- An animal-for-reptile exchange has been proposed by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim so the city can address its surplus of crocodiles and add to its animal collection.

Lim Tuesday said he was willing to exchange 20 of the Manila Zoo’s more than 40 crocodiles for animals like elephants, zebras and giraffes.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080123-114177/Manila-Zoo-problem-Too-many-crocodiles

28 January 08 

Gator hunt lures Northeners -

Michigan men snare trophy reptiles

Thanks to local trapper

Two pieces on ‘gator-hunting’ tourism in Florida.

…Godwin has been trapping nuisance alligators for 12 years and started guiding hunting parties when the state allowed such activities four years ago.

For the right price, he will guarantee the hunter will take home a trophy gator — one that's at least 9 feet long.

"That's $3,500, and we pay for all your expenses, including your licenses and your stay," he said. "In the general hunt, you go out with us on a regular night where we've got four or five alligators to catch, and you get to catch however many we can catch that night. Most of the gators you'll catch on a general hunt with be 6 to 8 feet long. That's $2,000."

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/news-25/120118805614970.xml&coll=9

Link 2:

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/NEWS01/801280315/1006

27 January 08 

Kayak ride can be gator bait

A travel-log piece about kayaking Florida’s Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and the subsequent meetings with the reptilian locals.  The most ‘alarming’ part of the piece is the title.

http://www.miamiherald.com/627/story/395282.html

25 January 08 

Crocodiles satisfied with fish populace -

Two-day croc survey begins

The hearsay, myth and suspicions related to existence of crocodiles in India’s Ghodahada River was authenticated by the first crocodile enumeration conducted by the Forest Department.

Divisional Forest Officer A.K.Jena said they had sighted 29 mature Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) crocodiles on the first day of survey.  “As the hatchlings and young crocodiles are yet to be enumerated we feel that the crocodile population in this reservoir may be more than 100,” he said. The survey teams have also located more than 20 tunnels used by crocodile families on beach of the reservoir.

The unique feature of these crocodiles was that they have till date not harmed any humans or domestic animals of the area.

It seems they are quite satisfied with the fish populace in the reservoir. This reservoir is used for pisciculture by a cooperative of local inhabitants. But some fishermen alleged that their nets were being damaged by the crocodiles, who were finding easy to grab fish caught in fishing nets.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/25/stories/2008012557620300.htm

24 January 08 

Rare Sea-Crocodiles in Central Zoo

A pair of rare sea-crocodiles have begun to inhabit the Pyongyang Central Zoo in DPRK.

According to Pak Yong Hui, an official of the zoo, these crocodiles are gift animals presented to Kim Jong Il by a businessman of China.

http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2008/200801/news01/24.htm#7

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