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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.
Wes von Papineäu, News Page Editor Email: crocnews@crocodopolis.net _________________________________________________
Week of 10 February 08
"Crocodiles in Love"
Check out this week's Croc TV featurette.
14 February 08 Confessions of an Israeli crocodile hunter
The life and times of Israeli crocodile hunter Ofer Kobi and his crocodile farm, Crocoloco, which functions as a visitors' center near Moshav Ir Ovot. Kobi plans to build the first slaughterhouse for crocodiles in Israel.
Of crocs, Kobi says: "I discovered that it's an amazing animal. They are capable of enduring terrible injuries without sustaining any infection; their wounds are self-curing. There are dozens of researchers around the world who are trying to understand it. They have existed on earth for over 180 million years, without any significant evolutionary change. They are a very successful species. They know how to live together. I'm constantly amazed to see how so many crocodiles get along in a little puddle. The congestion doesn't bother them. They are unusually gentle among themselves. "
"Catching crocodiles is simple. .... Often the crocodile would jump into the boat and then we jumped out...."
"...the dwarf crocodile, which has no economic value because its skin cannot be processed, is now in real danger of extinction. Nobody has any interest in protecting it and raising it." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/954376.html 12 February 08 Alligator danger in South Carolina
South Carolina Gator Getter Ron Russell describes the 'nuisance gator' problem in his state.
"If you look at statistics of people moving into the area, there are more alligators. There's no doubt about that, but there's also more people and more people interacting with alligators," ... He caught more then 80 gators last year as a part time catcher for the Department of Natural Resources.
"You have to live by their rules when you live by an alligator. An alligator will eat a dog. It will eat a cat. But to them it's not your dog. It's not your cat. It's nothing personal. It's food to them," said Russell.
State officials say there hasn't been a fatal alligator attack in the state of South Carolina in at least 100 years and there's less than one attack per year in the state. http://www.wcbd.com/midatlantic/cbd/news.apx.-content-articles-CBD-2008-02-12-0020.html
11 February 08 Croc World Records Project is launched
A new initiative by Crocodopolis, the Crocodilian World Records Project will attempt to document information from around the world consisting of facts and feats in the biological realm of crocodilians, in a publishing/TV effort to raise awareness of the great reptiles and their relationship to the planet's bio-systems and humans. Learn more here.
11 February 08 Ukraine officials nab smugglers Moving alligators, other reptiles
This article is in the Russian language: The smuggling of 'exotic pets' from the Ukrainian port of Odessa continues. In the last botched attempt, a husband and wife team got nabbed trying to move an alligator(s), ball python(s), chameleon(s) etc. http://krug.com.ua/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2260&Itemid=54
11 February 08 Microchips to keep a tab on gharials
An Indian item featuring the pilot project launched by the Government for the conservation of ghariyals (Indian Gharial, Gavialis gangeticus) within the Chambal rang, at least 200 of them will be microchipped.
The task is being under taken by Ghariyal Crisis Management Group (GCMG), formed by the Government of India following the recent deaths of ghariyals in the Etawah range. Around 800 of them in this area were declared as 'critically endangered' by the World Conservation Union.
Apart from microchipping, the urine, blood and joint fluid samples of ghariyals are also being collected. According to experts, the exercise will help in preparing an extensive database of the species.
They said that through microchipping, the experts would have their health data and in case any of these animals die, they will be able to compare the changes in its anatomy and the other such conditions by comparing the medical data and post mortem report. http://www.indianexpress.com/story/271600.html 11 February 08 Indian gharial faces extinction
More than 90 Gharial deaths in the National Chambal Sanctuary in India has led ecologists to determine that the species is under severe threat and might be facing extinction.
According to a report in ENN (Environmental News Network), post mortems on the gharials (Indian Gharial, Gavialis gangeticus) found dead at the National Chambal Sanctuary show debilitating gout affecting the animals.
Early results point to levels of heavy metals - lead and cadmium - leading to immune-suppression, or reduction in the body's ability to fight pathogens, and thereby making the animals susceptible to infections. According to Dr. Sandeep Behera, Freshwater Species coordinator with WWF-India, "We are not ruling out any possibility. Whatever may be the reason for these deaths, one thing is certain: the situation is as grim as 1970 when the number of gharials had plummeted to an all-time low and their population could be restored only after government supported conservation efforts." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indian_gharial_faces_extinction_/rssarticleshow/2772231.cms 09 February 08 Driver crashes into gator farm fence
A driver in Saint Augustine learned an important lesson late this past week: Drive carefully on A1A, especially around the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. The woman busted through the outside fence of the farm.
"There's 150 alligators on the other side of that fence," said farm director John Brueggen.
Neither the
woman, nor any gators, were injured in the crash.
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2008/2/9/driver_crashes_into_gator_farm_fence.html
09 February 08 Rare surgery saves croc eye - Zoo operation removes ulcer
Dirk the crocodile will soon see things much clearer thanks to veterinary surgeons who performed a rare eye operation this week at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo.
Doctors removed an ulcer from the 14-year-old African dwarf crocodile's (Osteolaemus tetraspis) cornea and stitched the reptile's third eyelid shut to protect the affected area from harm during the healing process.
Resident vet Dr. Chris Enright said the surgery has only been done on a crocodile "a handful of times" around the world.
Zoo curator Dr. Bob Wrigley said workers want to keep the zoo's two endangered dwarf crocodiles healthy, especially since the species has been around for at least 80 million years already. "We describe them as real living fossils," he said. "They're a real ancient group, and young people seem to have a natural love of big reptiles." http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/02/09/4836934-sun.html 07 February 08 Sink your teeth into this
Smiling at these ferocious beasts is not advisable. "Don't be taken in by his welcome grin, he's imagining how well you'll fit within his skin," go the words to one of the journalist's favourite childhood songs Never Smile At A Crocodile.
The item is a sympathetic review of Crocodile Creek, a breeding centre on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast that is a favourite among herpetologists.
The farm is home to two different species of crocodile: the West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) and slender-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus, aka Mecistops cataphractus). http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=700146
10 February 08 Croc attacks boy in Papua New Guinea
A crocodile dragged a 15-year-old boy into a creek last Saturday in Gulf province of Papua New Guinea, police said yesterday.
The boy was collecting fruits from a tree that was leaning across the bank near Mariki village at Bamuru district when the crocodile about 3 m/9.8 ft long sneaked in from behind and dragged him into the creek.
His father, while fishing, watched helplessly and later blocked off the creek with the net to stop the crocodile from taking his son into the river.
Scroll down the page when you arrive via the link below. http://www.thenational.com.pg/020808/nation_40.htm
10 February 08 Alligator and scars
Since the point of cosmetic surgery is to improve your appearance, scar prevention is always high on the list of desired advancements in the field. Over the years cosmetic surgeons have developed surgical techniques to minimize the appearance of scars, by using more precise instruments, smaller incisions, and making incisions in hard to see place. Soon, we may have a product to prevent scars from forming.
The product is called Juvista, and the key ingredient is a synthetic form of a protein called transforming growth factor B3 (TGFB3).
So, what about the alligators?
The scar preventing properties of TGFB3 were discovered by Mark Ferguson, the developer of Juvista, while he was studying cleft palates in alligators. He performed surgery on alligator embryos, which have high levels of TGFB3, and the alligators were born scar free. http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=20080207_scar_treatment.htm
10 February 2008 Controversial crocs find new home in KZN
The city of George's controversial crocodile farm is eerily quiet, with slimy ponds and bare concrete holding pens the only evidence that it was once home to hundreds of prehistoric reptiles.
Some 20 years after opening, the farm was forced to close its doors and the animals relocated to KwaZulu Natal. http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n05_08022008.htm
8 February 08 South Carolina: Alligator hunting proposal Warrants greater scrutiny
This is an opinion column that asks and answers the question: Do we really need a law that allows private property owners to shoot alligators for six weeks in the fall? http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/story/220765.html
8 February 2008 South Carolina: Open season on alligators won't help
Another opinion piece on the South Carolina, USA alligator legislation issue. This one is from the Beaufort Gazette. when you reach the page via the link below, you'll need to scroll down the page a bit. http://www.beaufortgazette.com/opinions/story/186996.html
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