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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 03 June 07
05 June 07 Indian Gharial uplisted to 'Critically Endangered'
The Gharial Multi-Task Force (GMTF), the body of crocodilian specialists that was formed to take action for the conservation of the Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), has announced that the animal has been uplisted to "Critically Endangered" by the world conservation union IUCN.
The reptile, whose habitat is being destroyed at possibly an unprecedented rate, is losing much of its egg-laying embankment area due to the illegal removal of sand for the concrete supply industry in India.
"Whilst this is essentially very bad news, it means that there is more leverage for both fundraising and action toward protecting gharials within the range states," said Colin Stevenson, member of the task force, referring to the status change of the crocodilian.
Stevenson further noted that though the IUCN's 'Red List' of endangered species is not officially updated until later in the year, the uplisting was accepted by them due to the severity of the threat to the species.
To read more about the reptile's plight, please refer to the "Gharial Conservation Crisis" visual presentation, and the newly published GMTF June 2007 Newsletter.
08 June 07 Male gators attracted to tuba's B flat
Mating Florida alligators respond to the note of B flat -- at least when played on a tuba through the wood of a boardwalk. At least that's what a Tampa Tribune reporter discovered in an attempt to replicate a 1944 experiment, "Response of Captive Alligators to Auditory Stimulation," conducted at the Museum of Natural History in New York.
08 June 07 A Bit of Wally's world
This is a short feature about Oxbow Meadows Learning Center in Georgia, specifically it's subadult alligator named Wally, and the animal's young keeper, Daniel Walker. http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/169/story/55625.html
07 June 07 Crocs no problem For marathon swim winner
The winner of the inaugural Lake Argyle Classic marathon swim in Kununurra says he was unfazed by the prospect of swimming with freshwater crocodiles.
"Once sort of people told me the facts that they're only freshwater and ... they're more scared of you than you are of them and even if they bite you they're not going to really hurt you, so ... after a couple days I was all right, after my first swim in the lake," he said. http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200706/1945101.htm?northwestwa
07 June 07 Jamaica issues croc warning
Persons in Jamaica found in possession of a crocodile or any part of a crocodile may be found guilty in a Resident Magistrate's Court, and fined up to $100,000 or 12 months imprisonment, or both. The National Environment and Planning Agency is, therefore, asking persons to report any animals that they may see outside of their natural habitats and in unusual places. http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070607/lead/lead5.html
07 June 07 Alligator goes to school
Sabal Palm elementary school officials say an 8 ft/ m -long alligator made its way into the school. Principal Tammy brown kept the school on 'lockdown' until the alligator was removed. http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=12931&z=3&p=
07 June 07 South Carolina man Reports alligator bite
An 82-year-old Callawassie Island man reported an alligator bit him
late Tuesday while he was fishing, according to a Beaufort County
Sheriff's Office report.
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/briefs/story/6542816p-5822547c.html
07 June 07 Croc Week benefit planned At the The Maryland Zoo
The
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is planning Croc Week, July 16-21, a benefit
for the AZA
Crocodilian Advisory Group to generate education awareness for
crocodilians worldwide.
The week will end with a celebration event
and CAG “Crocs’ Galore Gala” Fundraiser on
Saturday, the 21st
from 5 to 9 pm to support crocodilian educational and in-situ
conservation efforts worldwide.
For more
information, contact
Mei Len Sanchez-Barr, Crocodilian Advisory Group
Villagers in Borneo on croc watch The presence of a two-metre/6.6 ft -long crocodile [Crocodylus porosus] has kept villagers of Kampung Petagas, Sabah on alert over the past few days. As a precaution, a few residents have kept vigil at their riverside homes and the river has been off-limits to children who used to play there. The Fire and Rescue Department has been alerted and several traps set to catch the reptile was spotted near the riverbank and on several sunken trees. http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/wed/jun6b1.htm
06 June 07 Georgia alligator hunt update
The USA's Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) reminds hunters that quota hunt applications are now being accepted for the 2007-2008 seasons. Those selected are chosen solely from the online application pool (paper applications are no longer accepted), so interested hunters must apply online on the WRD website. http://www.thetruecitizen.com/news/2007/0606/Sports/040.html
Florida teens found with frozen alligator
Deputies arrested four teenagers in Punta Gorda Florida who stole aluminum pipe to sell for scrap, and found a frozen 3 ft/1 m -long alligator stuffed into a freezer. The animals remains were turned over the the Florida Fish and wildlife Conservation Commission. http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=12908&z=3&p=
06 June 07 Australia: Croc around the clock
Travel: Shandelle Battersby encounters
scaly beasts in Australia's Northern Territory
05 June 07 Busy time for reptile rescue
The Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary tries to make good on bad decisions made by other pet owners.
Unfortunately, people who decide they no longer want their pet snake, lizard, tortoise, or alligator tend to set the reptiles free during the warmer Spring and Summer months.
"A lot of people will get a really nice animal over the Summer," says sanctuary founder Jesse Rothacker, describing a typical remorseful reptile owner. "Then it starts getting cold in the Winter, and they have to bring it (the reptile) inside, to their garage or basement. And they realize they don't want a giant alligator or python inside their house!" http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=27422f48-115f-49e4-8337-7c7c0a06b618
05 June 07 American Alligators: Conservation success story
This article is actually a profile of the Gulf Coast Gator Farms attraction in Mississippi, where the owner, Allan Adams, houses 400 alligators and says his mission is to educate the public. http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2007-06-05-voa20.cfm
05 June 07 City ordinance says alligator has to go
Wallets the alligator needs to find a new home by the end of the month. Marc Schmidt created a buzz in Hampton Township last week when his pet alligator escaped from its chicken-wire cage, attracting the attention of local media. But that buzz also caught the attention of Hampton Township Police Chief Gerald Runde, who says township residents cannot keep alligators as pets. http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1181056530101390.xml&coll=4
05 June 07 Gator throws wrench in man's plans
Albert Gehrman knew he had trouble when he turned the key in the ignition Monday. "All of a sudden, there was this 'thump, thump, bang, bang,''" the 81-year-old Hobe Sound resident said.
It was the 7-foot-8-inch alligator that had crawled underneath. "That really screws up my day," Gehrman recalls thinking after spotting the reptile in his driveway at Ridgeway Mobile Home Park. That, and, "I'm lucky it didn't reach out and try to get my leg. It was no little baby. This was a big mother."
Gehrman postponed his lunch date and a trip to the doctor's office so Martin County sheriff's deputies could snare the alligator, which was turned over to a licensed trapper. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/
04 June 07 Argyle racers shrug off Oz crocs
About 60 competitors plunged into crocodile-infested waters near Kununurra in Australia yesterday for what is billed as the world's biggest freshwater marathon swim. Set against the breathtaking red backdrop of the Kimberley, it is the largest man-made lake in Australia. But if size was not enough to deter the daredevil competitors, you would think the added danger of crocodiles would keep them away. Lake Argyle is home to about 25,000 freshwater johnston crocodiles. While freshies are not known to be man-eaters like their saltwater cousins - which are prolific farther down the Ord River - they can still give a nasty bite. http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,21846023-2761,00.html
04 June 07 Criminals deal in reptiles
This article, dated May 4, by the University of Kansas TV, features a provocative headline and controversial content. The value of this peace lies in the statistics mentioned and also in the comments by a Federal representative (interesting, indeed) - offering a public perspective on the trade and keeping of reptiles. While no mention is made of crocodilians in the story, it apparently applies to all trade of reptiles, and even animals of other families.- I.D. https://tv.ku.edu/news/2007/05/04/Criminals-deal-in-reptiles/
04 June 07 Beset by alligator numbers, Florida may ease hunting regulations
Florida's alligators, once listed as endangered, have rebounded so
strongly that the state's wildlife managers have proposed making it
easier to kill them.
03 June 07 Alligator Day: A close look at predatorsYou don't often get a chance to pet a prehistoric predator. But you will 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday during "Alligator Day" at Florence Marina State Park on Georgia, USA located on State Road 39 in Stewart County. There along the Chattahoochee River visitors will get to touch a captive gator about 3 feet long and 18 months old, and take boat tours to see alligators in the wild, said Trena Evans, an interpretive ranger. Alligator seminars about an hour long will be at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The cost is $2. This will be the sixth Alligator Day at Florence. Fifty people came to the first; now 200-300 show up. http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/51153.html
03 June 07 Gator hunters help get rid of 'nuisances'
After about eight years of hunting gators in Florida, Bob Hinson became one of 14 volunteer agent trappers for Georgia's Department of Natural Resources. Throughout the year, DNR asks Hinson to catch and remove nuisance alligators in his 10-county coverage area. To be considered a nuisance, a gator must be longer than 4 feet and pose a threat to residents. So far this year, Hinson has received only one call from DNR. http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/51182.html
02 June 07 Alligator impresses Onlookers in Jacksonville
An alligator crawling on a road just outside
Jacksonville, Florida, USA was captured by wildlife authorities as
curious onlookers clogged traffic. http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070601/NEWS/706010341/-1/State
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