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CROCODOPOLIS world of crocodilians TM SCIENCE · CULTURE · INDUSTRY · NEWS · COMMUNICATION · CONSERVATION
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NEWS
THE CROC PRESS Regular coverage of crocodilians and people in headlines worldwide.
By Wes von Papineäu News Page Editor Email: crocnews@crocodopolis.net _________________________________________________
Week of 28 January 07
02
February 07
Man running from police Attacked by crocodile
Quite
a week for the crocodilian-version of the Neighbourhood Watch program.
We had previously reported about a South African croc that had
foiled thieves breaking into a truck (There's a croc in my pool!,
31 Jan), and today from Australia we have a small report on a crocodile
that contributed in its own unique way to the capture of a fleeing
felon.
A
croc-friendly community is obviously a safe community!
01
February 07
Biologists help point crocodile to home
Researchers
from Texas universities are involved in an attempt to identify the
origin of a 2 m/6 ft -long American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
that swam to Grand Cayman from an unknown location last December.
Wildlife officials in Grand Cayman want to return the crocodile
to its home and needed help to determine where the crocodile was from.
David
Rodriguez, Texas Tech doctoral student, has been working since 2005 on
compiling genetic markers from blood samples that can identify the area
where any American Crocodile may be from. However, acquiring the blood
sample from Grand Cayman presents legal difficulties because it is
against federal law to ship crocodile blood into the U.S. without a
permit.
31
January 07
There's a croc in my pool!
From
today’s “Why doesn’t good stuff like this ever happen to me?”
files, we have a report from Sonheuwel, South Africa about a local
resident finding a 1.5 m/5 ft crocodile lazing in his swimming pool.
Apparently the young croc had escaped from a nearby van … after
thieves tried an overnight ‘smash and grab’ into the vehicle!
The attempted theft was apparently thwarted by the surprise
appearance of one of the 11 crocs inside the van (Ed: go figure!)
… after which one of the reptilians went on ‘walk about’. The hero
croc is now resting comfortably at an appropriate refuge. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2062273,
31 January 07 'Crocs aren't crooks'
There appear to be some long-overdue, pro-croc initiatives by the Philippine press underway … the following is a collateral item to the previously posted “Indopacific crocodiles also need conservation” (22 Jan). The author starts his piece with the sympathetic “Don’t insult the crocodile by comparing it to the corrupt and greedy politician” and the writing only gets better (and more informative) from there. The item outlines some of the agenda of a three day crocodile symposium starting in Manila tomorrow (see the Calendar) and then goes on to outline some of the many threats facing modern crocodile conservation efforts.
The
forum will also dwell on the etymology of “crocodile,” according to
Charles Ross, a retired herpetologist from the Smithsonian Institution,
who conducted a survey of the reptile’s distribution and natural
history in the early ’80s.
“The
crocodile did not used to have any negative connotation in Philippine
culture. I think being associated with corrupt and greedy politicians is
a modern phenomenon,” Ross said. “We should go back to the old
[meaning] because it’s unfair to our crocodiles.”
29
January 07
Indian gharial almost extinct
An
investigation by the Indian news agency CNN-IBN reveals that rampant
sand mining in the restricted area of a gharial (Gavialis
gangeticus) sanctuary is one of the significant reasons why the
population of that endangered animal has fallen from 1,200 in 1983 to an
alarming 200.
Bank-side agriculture is also taking a toll on gharial egg-laying
areas, as is the local fishing industry as fishermen decapitate young
gharials caught in nets.
To add to the gharials' survival problems, the regional
government is planning to construct a flood water diversion site through
the middle of the crocodilian's breeding area. http://www.ibnlive.com/news/mine-trap-indian-gharial-going-going-almost-gone/
16
January 07 Wenn Ralf Sommerlad sich als u...
If my German ability is even a bit better than my non-existent Afrikaans, this item centers on Ralf Sommerlad, a croc specialist soon to be featured in the Crocodopolis Profiles section. The article gives a very brief profile of Mr. Sommerlad's crocodilian-dominated life, and goes on to describe some of the creative background behind the extensive text that he co-authored with Mr. Ludwig Trutnau - but then you guys know all about that (the book is Crocodilians: Their Natural History & Captive Husbandry, for the two current readers that don't). It's well-worth learning German this weekend to better appreciate the item and the fact that the study of these unique creatures is not restricted to those living in warm-weather bayou, jungle and outback areas.
Should
you decide to decline the German language lessons, you may translate the
article easily and free of charge via this site's preferred translation
service.
http://www.rhein-main.net/sixcms/list.php?page=fnp2_news_article&id=3449404
22
January 07 Indopacific crocodiles Also need conservation
A
follow-on to the previously posted 'Our really old animals' (15 Jan 07).
The author is now pressing for protection of the Indopacific crocodile (Crocodylus
porosus) and as a researchable topic for ecologically-minded
students.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2007/January/22/starlife.htm
29
January 07 'Feed children to alligator' claim
A
British citizen threatened to chop his wife's children up and feed them
to his pet alligators, a court has heard. The Northampton 41-year-old
kept lizards, snakes and caiman alligators in the basement of his home.
28 January 07 Crocodiles terrorise people in Mwanza
Tanzanian officials report that crocodiles are terrorising people on the shores of Lake Victoria. A regional official is concerned that while they don’t actually know how many crocs they’re dealing with, the animals have allegedly killed nine people recently. Most attacks occurred while the victims were fishing or swimming. Lakeside residents blame the crocodile attacks on poor management of a nearby game sanctuary from which crocodiles are thought to be escaping. http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/page.php?id=5495 28 January 07 Florida Zoo proves Alligators aren't so awful
This item struck me as a rare ‘good news’ piece. The journalist is an ex-food editor with a declared prejudice against things large and green that are not zucchini-shaped. However, this piece about her experiences at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida demonstrates how a carefully crafted, experienced, educational and (dare I say) public relations effort can change some long-held public misconceptions. With more than 200,000 visitors each year, the park is described in a sympathetic fashion as an institution well worth any body’s time and attention. We should all be so lucky as to get ‘good press’ such as this. http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/COLUMNIST
25
January 07
The hunt is on - 'Crocodile' spotted in Steenbras Dam
South
African officials are searching for a 2 m/6 ft “mysterious creature”
spotted “only once” in the murky waters of the Steenbras Dam.
The municipal water reservoir is not know to be crocodile habitat
and local officials suspect that, if there really is a croc in the
potential bath water, that it is somebody’s released pet.
Escaped crocodiles in the Western Cape are extremely rare.
http://www.news24.com/Regional_Papers/Components/Category_Article_Text
_Template/0,,303_2059657~E,00.html
27
January 07
Monster croc haunts ramp
Another
version of the previously posted Townsville, Australia, ramp-crocodile
saga.
The emphasis in this version is the belief that problem is caused
by “illegal tourists” rather than the locals.
One local spokesman complained that: "Some people live here
for months…They do all their filleting on the banks and the crocs get
used to it"
24
January 07
Gator troubles in Sneads Ferry
What
is to become of Buddy, a 'friendly' 10.5 ft/3.2 m American alligator (Alligator
mississippiensis) in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina? Over the years he
has become too friendly, unafraid of humans because people keep
illegally feeding him and he's apparently docile enough to be approached
as measured.
Government
wildlife biologists are loath to have him moved and attempts to find him
sanctuary at a zoo are underway while the gator is in hibernation. http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS/701
24
January 07
'Herbs' From Indonesia Land Man In Hot Soup
An
Indonesian man has landed in hot soup after the "herbs" he was
carrying into Singapore were found to be penises from the protected
Crocodylus
porosus (Indopacific crocodile) species.
The reptile is a protected species in Singapore and any person
found to be importing or exporting them without a permit could be fined
up to S$500,000 or given a jail term of up to two years, or both. ^ BACK TO TOP
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