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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 27 April 08
24 March 08 'Dare to Explore': 'Suffering a Thousand cuts'
As a sign of entry into manhood, boys of this tribe suffer thousands of razor-blade cuts to make their skin resemble a crocodile's. Such a ritual demonstrates the anthropomorphic impact of crocodilians on various cultures. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGERY. See it here.
02 May 08 Toy turtle kills 9-Foot alligator
A 9 foot/3 metre alligator in the Florida Keys has died after eating a toy turtle the size of a cookie cutter.
A necropsy showed the plastic toy stuck between the alligator's stomach and intestines, blocking his ability to digest food. The average weight for alligators his size is 250 pounds/113 kilos, but this one weighed only 188 pounds/ 82 kilos. http://www.local6.com/news/16131896/detail.html
30 April 08 Croc comes calling in India
India's N Venu-and-Ramesh " had to live the horror" of finding a grisly, three-metre/nine-foot-long and 150-kg/330-lb crocodile staring menacingly at him from his verandah.
Forest officials believe that the reptile could have sneaked out of the Kinnerasani reservoir, home to tens of dozens of Mugger crocodiles, is occasionally released. There have been reports of swimmers in Kinnerasani suffering crocodile bites.
The big reptile was later released into Kinnerasani catchment zone. 30 April 08 'Pluck Ness Monster' In Crocodile Expert Probe
There's lots of UK coverage on a sighting of a suspected metre-long/three-foot crocodilian at a Swansea lake.
Mr Jenkins was walking his dog around the lake when he saw what he first thought was a log in the water.
He said "It was definitely a crocodile. There was a white van submerged in the water and it swam over the top of it so I had a good look. It was a metre long and had a long tail".
"I've been ribbed mercilessly since I reported it to the police - people whistle the tune of Crocodile Shoes when they see me. But I don't care what people think, I know what I saw."
The sighting has sparked the interest of Gwilym Games, a member of the Centre for Fortean Zoology. The group specialises in reports of strange and unusual animals around the globe, and a crocodile out of its natural habitat in a Swansea pond fits the bill perfectly. He said "There have been quite a few reports of these crocodiles in different lakes in the UK - Nobody has ever found these crocodiles, but, because of the number found illegally, it is not impossible".
Inspector Emma Tyler, of South Wales Police, said there had been no further reports of the crocodile and no further action was expected at this stage. She said: "We are not planning to do anything else." 30 April 08 Does a Welsh Loch Ness monster lurk in city lake? 30 April 08 Crocodile spotted near Welsh supermarket http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1914892/Crocodile-spotted-near-Welsh-supermarket.html 28 April 08 Croc farm fawns babies
Bangladesh's lone crocodile farm, Reptiles Farm Ltd, established at Hatibeer of Bhaluka upazila five years ago, now has 140 seven-month-old croc babies.
Fifteen crocodiles of the farm built on 13.40 acres of land last year laid 600 eggs of which only 141 could be incubated. The rest eggs were ruined as those could not be placed in incubator, farm sources. One hatchling later died.
The aim of the farm is to support and promote conservation by breeding threatened species following standard animal husbandry techniques, providing recreation for people, facilities for scientific studies as well as encouraging legitimate business of crocodile skins, sources said. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=34160 28 April 08 Nipping croc just a 'juvenile delinquent'
Australian Rangers who caught a two-metre/six-foot long crocodile that attacked a dog at a north Queensland beach say the reptile was a "juvenile delinquent" intent on causing trouble.
QPWS crocodile handler Brian Wright said the young male crocodile wasn't happy to comply with its captors. "It was a feisty little male, a typical juvenile delinquent - They tend to run `round and have a go, they're very agile, and they're not aggressive but they tend to hold their ground".
The croc has now been transported to Melaleuca Crocodile Farm in Mareeba, west of Cairns, where it will spend the rest of its life. 27 April 08 Alligator that attacked Fla. man captured
A Florida trapper caught a nearly 8-foot/2.4 metre alligator that authorities say attacked a man fishing golf balls out of a pond at a Tampa country club.
The alligator latched onto his left arm and tried to drag him underwater but he was able to wrestle himself free, but he was left with a dislocated shoulder and several puncture wounds where the animal bit him. http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080427/BREAKINGNEWS/80427007/1086/news01 26 April 08 Stolen crocodile recovered at airport
A baby Nile crocodile has been found in an abandoned crate at Entebbe International Airport, a week after it was stolen from the nearby Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC).
The crocodile, which had its jaws tied, was wrapped in diapers and then put in a crate.
The crocodile was mid-last year rescued from a fisherman who was selling it at Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe. UWEC intervened following a tip from a concerned citizen. http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=624533
27 April 08
Zoo's reptile keeper urges gator awareness
With an estimated 1.25 million alligators in Florida, human encounters with the reptiles are becoming more common.
To help educate the public about the state's alligator population, the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford recently presented an alligator awareness class led by senior reptile keeper Nick Clark. Alligator knowledge is especially beneficial at this time of year because their breeding season starts in April and continues until the end of May, Clark said.
Simple, common-sense guidelines include the following: Don't feed alligators, don't poke or harass them in any way and definitely don't use their "grunting call" as a way to draw them closer.
"I've heard a lot of people do the grunting
alligator call and that will elicit an attack from a female alligator
because it's actually a distress call that the babies make," Clark said.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Neighbors/West/wvlV05042708.htm 26 April 08 Big crocs caught in city suburbs
Three large crocodiles have been caught in Darwin
rivers in the past week. Parks and Wildlife ranger Robert Risk said male crocs were still looking for new territories.
"Males usually wander around, getting kicked out and
look for a new territory and a female companion,'' he said.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/04/26/3967_ntnews.html 21 April 08 Big crocs 'not unexpected' now
The presence of crocodiles in Queensland,
particularly large males, at this time of the year should not be
unexpected.
"They’re coming off the breeding season (November to
March) so they’re mobile; the large males are very mobile and track for
long distances.
http://www.torresnews.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=818&Itemid=1 20 April 08 Krokodíl usmrtil muža
This is a Slovak
version of the previously posted 20 April 08
Jungle justice: Croc kills alleged illegal
logger.
http://www.bleskovky.sk/cl/11/239371/Krokodil-usmrtil-muza 17 April 08 Вечная память. В Мариуполе установили памятник крокодилу Годзилле
This is a Ukraine
version of the previously posted 14 April 08
Statue of runaway crocodile put up in Azov Sea
city, complete with photos and a video
link of the statue.
http://www.stb.ua/newsv.php?item.14731
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