CROCODOPOLIS™ Crocodilian News Archive 7/08/07

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The CROC PRESS

Regular coverage of crocodilians and people

in headlines worldwide.

Wes von Papineäu, News Page Editor

Email: crocnews@crocodopolis.net

_________________________________________________

Week of 8 July 07

10 July 07

'Thieves' search the wild for gator eggs

On Lake Jesup near Orlando, Florida, stealing an entire clutch of eggs from an alligator's nest is a bizarre experience in which a band of thieves spends the three hottest weeks of the year harvesting tens of thousands of soon-to-be-born reptiles from dozens of lakes. And it's all done with state approval and oversight, with the aim of supporting commercial alligator farming ventures while not harming wildlife or the ecosystem in general .

Video and story:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/orl-gator1107jul11,0,3308073.story

10 July 07

Gator on the loose in Mississippi

A baby alligator that witnesses in Columbus, Mississippi, USA said bailed into the waters of a murky ditch Monday after being frightened by a guy who was whacking weeds, remained at large Tuesday afternoon.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070711/NEWS01/707110303/1002

10 July 07

Cancer claims veteran gator hunter

North Florida is going to miss Tony Hunter. The pioneering alligator trapper died this month after a battle with cancer. He was 54.

An admitted one-time alligator poacher, he became one of the state's first certified trappers in 1978 when Florida began an official program for capturing nuisance alligators.

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070711/BREAKINGNEWS/707110354

09 July 07

Capturan lagarto en un área residencial

In Santiago, Panamá, a two metre/six foot ‘gator/croc’ was captured wandering a residential area.

http://www.prensa.com/hoy/nacionales/1042350.html

22 June 07

La Junta prohíbe como mascota

El cocodrilo y la serpiente venenosa

In Málaga, Spain, crocodilians as housepets have been banned. Illegal possession of the critters could result in a 15,000 Euro/$US 20,500 fine.

http://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pNumEjemplar=2927&pIdSeccion=2&pIdNoticia=120265

21 June 07

Un cocodrilo y su domador,

La atracción de un circo

From México we have the story of man-meets-450 kilo/990 pound, wounded crocodile; man-befriends 5 metre/16 foot croc; and man plays with honkin-big croc at the zoo.

http://oncetv-ipn.net/noticias/index.php?modulo=despliegue&dt_fecha=2007-06-21&numnota=10

10 July 07

Two large alligators caught in Bartow, Fl.

Officials aren't sure whether either animal attacked a dog in June, but a trapper has captured a 8 foot/2.4 metre and a 6.5 foot/2 metre alligator in a Bartow, Florida lake where a dog was attacked nearly two weeks ago. "We don't know if either of those alligators attacked the dog," said Les Barr, assistant director of parks and recreation for the city, "but at least we have those two out of there.

Scot Barbon, who's been a nuisance alligator trapper for nearly six years said alligators frequently hide out in storm water drains because it gets them out of the sun. "That's not unusual," he said. "They learn that that's how they can get back and forth between the lakes. Sometimes, they'll wander around in those pipes and never come out."

http://www.theledger.com/article/20070710/NEWS/707100312/1134

07 July 07

Capturan a cocodrilo homicida

From Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, we learn that local officials are either hunting or have captured a 300 kilo/660 pound, 35-year old Crocodylus acutus responsible for attacking a young boy.

What makes this article unusually poignant for your editor is that the journalist points out that, notwithstanding the tragedy of crocodile-related deaths, people should learn to get along with the predators since we into their environment.

More importantly, over the past 60 years 30,000 people in the region have died at the hands of each other, and only three by crocodiles.

(Editor note: Please note, my Spanish is about as good as my Bulgarian, so I might have missed some of the subtleties of the item, guidance is always appreciated.)

http://www.periodicoelsur.com/noticia.aspx?idnoticia=11504

Link2:

http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2007/07/05/index.php?section=estados&article=036n3est

Link 3:

http://www.am.com.mx/Nota.aspx?ID=147858&strPlaza=Leon&IDPlaza=1

10 July 07

Crocodile conservation group

Plans West Africa meeting

The Crocodile Specialist Group, of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, will hold a West Africa Sub-regional Workshop November 13-15 at West Parc in Niger. The gathering will address crocodile conservation efforts, previous and proposed, in the Western region of the continent of Africa. To obtain details of the meeting's content, please visit http://www.lafermeauxcrocodiles.com/

article.php3?id_article=158.

09 July 07

Seventh graders create educational Alligator coloring booklet

Florida’s Sanibel School Seventh Grade Community Problem Solving Team (CmPS) developed an alligator coloring booklet titled “All About Alligators” to educate children on how to be safe around this powerful reptile.

Dr. Trish Herman of Barry University, the CmPS team coach, said the coloring book was developed as a result of fatalities caused by alligators. The goal is to teach elementary school-aged children how to be safe and coexist with alligators. It is being distributed by the FWC and Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge at various outreach events and is available at http://www.MyFWC.com/gators/

kids_only/AAA_booklet.pdf.

http://www.wakulla.com/Wakulla_Outdoors/FWC_General_News/Seventh_Graders_Create_

Educational_Alligator_Coloring_Book%3B_Download_and_Print_Here_200707093468/

07 July 07

Crocs head south to Pilbara

(Jim Kelly) Crocodiles are being spotted hundreds of kilometres south of their normal Kimberley Australia habitat, with a 3metre/9 foot croc spotted near Karratha this week.

A leading crocodile expert said the reptile probably migrated hundreds of kilometres from the Kimberley.

Roebourne Shire president Rob Vitenbergs said he had lived in the area all his life and had never seen a crocodile. "I think it is probably a good thing because they might keep the tourists away from our favourite fishing spots.''

Broome crocodile expert Malcolm Douglas said "Crocodiles have been spotted 2000 nautical miles off the coast, so they can swim long distances,''.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22034338-2761,00.html

9 July 07

'Day of the Crocodile' event

Planned for German zoo

A "Day of the Crocodile", an event to be hosted by Terrazoo Rheinberg, Germany on august 18, will feature several live reptles of different species, as well as lectures on crocodilian biology and conservation. Gharial and Tomistoma conservation will be highlighted by Florian Haselbarth (GMTF), Rene Bonke (Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn) and Ralf Sommerlad (CSG-TTF). For more information, visit the Terrazoo rheinberg website, at http://www.zooschule-rheinberg.de, or click here to view a promotional poster containing more details.

09 July 07

Gators 1, guys 0 :

Reptile wrestlers are a dying breed

Wanted: Thrill-seeking animal lovers with cool heads and quick reflexes. Must have finesse, agility and high tolerance for pain -- and low pay.

Alligator handlers across South Florida said there is simply less money, glamour and interest in the profession today then in its glory days, when crowds flocked to roadside shows.

On a good day, James Peacock, wildlife manager at Native Village said years ago shows drew more than 400 visitors and he could make about $500 a day in tips.

Peacock said television shows and Internet videos about animals have had a big effect. "The lessons are being taught in their own home, without harming any animals. So that's the positive side," Peacock said. "The negative side is, did I waste the last 17 years of my life learning how to do this?"

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070709/NEWS/707090361

Link 2:

http://torontosun.com/News/World/2007/07/09/4325024-sun.html

06 July 07

'How I fought off crocodiles

With my bare hands '

From Kenya we learn about how to wrassle, not farmed gators, but wild crocs stalking you as their next meal.

Fisherman Hillary Amuma, 26, wriggled out of a predator's jaws during a 30 minute meleé by employing the Pokomo traditional method. No spear, panga or other weapon is required; just courage, precision, quick action and alertness.

Intent on his fishing, "… something grabbed my left leg and pulled me into the river. I did not realise what was happening immediately." He realised that a huge reptile had bitten his left thigh, and hitting it with his bare fist was like hitting a concrete wall.

In a flash, Amuma remembered survival tactics he had learnt from his grandfathers. Using his right hand fingers, he poked the crocodile's eye and jumped back in an instant. His heart pumping hard and not sure if he would succeed, he summoned enough courage to face the danger. But when he tried to run away, the reptile jumped over him again and it came into direct contact with his fingers aimed at both eyes.

He touched both eyes at the same time, immediately immobilising his attacker which retreated, more or less subdued. "This is how I escaped," Amuma recalls. "According to the Pokomo, a crocodile fears being touched in the eye as this immoblises it."

He says, however, that although the age-old method of fighting off a crocodile has been passed from one generation to another, many local people cannot accomplish it due to fear. "Summoning courage to aim fingers at the eyes of a crocodile is not easy, especially when the animal has bitten you and is pulling you into the water," he adds.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200707090014.html

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