We get a small teaser from a Pittsburgh newspaper that ‘firefighters saved an alligator’ from an apartment fire.

And now you don’t have to go to the original item … that’s all it gave us!

An extensive Swaziland item covering the crocodile-related disappearances of women and livestock living near Great Usuthu River.

What struck me throughout the piece was the seeming acceptance by the reporter (who may or may not reflect the feelings of the riverside locals) that crocodile attacks were part of the everyday challenges of life, and it was up to people to amend to the crocodiles routine rather than vice-versa, or more likely, by wiping out the crocs.

This item has great potential to become my favourite ‘ethics’ related piece for starting discussions on what established crocodiles and encroaching people are entitled to in an area of scare resources.

A 700 kg/1540 lb crocodile in Taiwan is allegedly ‘pacified’ to the point of ‘pet-ability’ by listening to broadcast Buddhist sutra.

{Ed Note:  Being a ‘newt-guy’, I’m sometime perplexed by stories such as this – can large crocs be ‘calmed’ just by sound?  If one of you crocophiles would do me the kindness of curling up with a half-ton of your favourite wild-caught ‘saltie’ and gently croon mantras, sutras or Country and Western ballads into it’s ear, I’d really be interested in hearing from your estate executor about the results.  Thank you}

Zimbabwean Parks staff failed for two hours to net two crocodiles illegally placed in a rugged 1 yd/1m -deep, plant-covered pond at a Borrowdale house.

A maid at the house told of how she was chased, a fortnight ago, by one of the crocodiles, which is a metre long, when she tried to feed the reptiles.  "I had never seen the male crocodile so vicious. It usually comes out each time I go to feed them while the female one is shy and does not come out. I do not know what could have provoked it that particular day," the maid said.

Officials are considering charging the crocodile’s owner under the Parks and Wildlife Management Act, as it was illegal to keep crocodiles in a residential area.

An editorial comment to yesterday’s Croc pops up at Hoseni Dalan; with the author being concerned that such events involving illegally captures and released animals will increase in the future.

Crocodile researchers in the Australia’s Northern Territory say they have learnt a lot about the behaviour of 22 male saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) since fitting them with satellite devices.

Apparently the reptiles lead a nomadic life, with one subject being described as “a bit of a yo-yo”.

You have to be Australian or good with an atlas to understand the distances discussed in the item, since it speaks only of geographic points instead of measured distances.

This item is a detailed follow-up to what is to me the strangest gator-related story of 2006.  An apparently methamphetamines-influenced Adrian Apgar was dragged 20 feet into a swamp by a 3.7m/12-ft, 1111kg/2, 450 lb alligator (the reported weight, though not a realistic one - Ed.) that then proceeded to do the proverbial ‘death-roll’ and savaging Mr Apgar’s arm.  He was saved from certain death by the timely arrival of three deputies.

A 26-page Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report on the incident highlighted that the investigator said he could not conclude exactly what occurred.

From the curiouser-and-curiouser files comes the press report that a Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) missing from its Ellen Trout Zoo exhibit since Dec. 21 was found alive burrowed in a storage barn  — just a couple of hundred feet from its exhibit.

Gordon Henley, zoo director said: "More than 50 percent of our staff believe it was stolen and returned. But if it did get out and was out all winter, then those animals have proven to be hardy,", citing the below-freezing temperatures that occurred over the past couple of months.