21 July 08 

Alligator sighting closes Massachusetts beach

Waushakum Beach in Massachusetts was shut down and residents were warned to stay out of the water after 15-year-old James Boudreau reported seeing a six-foot/two metre alligator … for the second time.

Framingham Police contacted the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and an animal control officer unsuccessfully searched the lake for the beast.

Michael Ralbovsky, a herpetologist with Rainforest Reptile Shows, has some doubts about the sighting.

His best guess? "Snapping turtle," he said.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/framingham/news/x1768850364/Alligator-sighting-closes-Framingham-beach

21 July 08 

Gutsy biologists collect alligator eggs-

Culling wild nests keeps Fla. gator farms full

The item is a short synopsis of one biologists’ experience in collecting wild gator eggs for Florida’s alligator farming efforts.

"You always have to watch your back," biologist Lindsey Hord says. "Usually, they will hiss and snap and make all kinds of noise, but I've had them just literally sneak up on me."

"Hiding them to the side, sneaky," Hord says, plucking them up one by one, occasionally glancing over his shoulder, on the lookout for a defensive attack from the female gator.

"They're always here," he says. "Somewhere nearby. We just have to be very careful."

Each summer, scientists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission help collect up to 40,000 eggs for 30 farmers who share in the catch.

Each farmer gets roughly 1,000 eggs for about $12 a pop, money that pays for the hunt and funds future alligator management programs.

Since the collections began in 1988, roughly 600,000 eggs have been gathered and distributed to farmers, who can make up to $100,000 a year in profits by selling the hides (flawless ones go for about $240) and meat, which can fetch about $12 a pound retail or $6 wholesale.      

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/search/article/360373

18 July 08 

Leopard savaging a crocodile caught on camera

A series of dramatic photos taken in S Africa by American safari photographer Hal Brindley.

“In the past, there have been reports of crocodiles killing leopards, but this is believed to the first time that the reverse scenario has been observed.”

"It just doesn't make sense. The meat you get out of a crocodile is just not worth the risk it takes a predator to acquire. The whole scene happened in the course of about 5 minutes. Then the leopard was gone.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/07/18/ealeopard118.xml

16 July 08 

Hissing gator and python returned to owner

In New Jersey, an alligator and a python confiscated from a Parsippany garden apartment were returned to their owner after New Jersey wildlife officials determined the organization ‘Snakes N Scales and Turtle Tails’ had the required licenses to keep them.

Darlene Yuhas of the state Department of Environmental protection said no summonses were issued but state Division of Fish and Wildlife officials discussed with the group the proper procedures that require direct transport between the Snakes N Scales facility and the particular event.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/07/hissing_gator_and_a_python_are.html

Related item:

20 July 08 

Alligators and snakes can't compare as pets to that faithful dog

And related to the Parsippany gator event, we have this journalist's view on the utility and desirability of keeping exotic animals as pets.

“Alligators are known for one thing: springing out of marshes and snapping off Floridians' heads. That's it. Nothing good can come of one of those at home. (Unless your next-door neighbor is a jerk who owns a swimming pool.)”

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080720/COLUMNISTS19/807200333

15 July 08 

Gharial found in Bengal -

Officials in Betla play cupid

As fugitive from Tata zoo caught

Another missing gharial of India’s Tata Steel Zoological Park was located in the Subernarekha in Kharagpur.

This is the second gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) to be caught after three of the reptiles escaped from Tata zoo during the June 18 flood. One crocodile was also missing.

Even though the endangered Gangetic gharial was ultimately traced, it would be a Herculean task for the zoo authority and the divisional forest office to claim the reptile back. “It would require clearance by the Bengal wildlife warden.

As the gharial is considered an endangered species, Bengal will give its nod only after getting it identified and proved beyond questionable level that the particular gharial belonged to Tata Steel Zoological Park only and had swam down to Kharagpur in a recent flood,” said a senior forest official.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080715/jsp/jharkhand/story_9550708.jsp