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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 29 July 07
30 July 07 Plea to save Australia's big crocs
Australian herp researcher Dr. Adam Britton said Northern Territory citizens need to appreciate the real value of large crocodiles in the wild and that killing them can damage the local eco-system and tourism industry.
He said
large salties (Saltwater, or Indopacific Crocodiles, Crocodylus
porosus) played an important role in controlling numbers of
mid-sized crocs. "It's those mid-sized crocs that are far more
likely to become problem animals and a danger to both people and
livestock."
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2007/07/30/1648_ntnews.html
30 July 07 Gator skinner makes clean cut
At a small plant on Saul Road in Pierson Florida, the Charlotte Klokis has been cleaning alligators for 14 years. She works for Curtis Lucas and Dan Ellis, who as members of the Florida Alligator Trappers Association hunt mostly nuisance animals under contract with the state.
She cleans between 25 and 30 of the reptiles per week. She tenderizes and bags the meat and packs the bags into 5-pound boxes for shipment to restaurants in Volusia County and throughout the country.
Klokis
was unexpectedly inducted into the business of alligator cleaning in
1992 when she responded to a help-wanted ad placed by a meat processing
plant east of Orlando. "I walked into Froehlich's Gator Farm, and
I saw only men working there. I touched the carcass and poked at the
gator's eyes," Klokis says. Later, "they called me and said I had
the job because I wasn't scared of the gators."
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newWEST01073007.htm 30 July 07 Alligator found on New York beach
A small
alligator was found Saturday morning on Overlook Beach in Babylon, New
York. An off-duty agent of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) found the 2 ½-foot/.76 metre-long animal about
5:30 a.m., the SPCA said. Roy Gross, the organization’s chief, said the
alligator would be sent to a reptile sanctuary. He added that it was the
107th reptile his organization had recovered this year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/nyregion/30mbrfs-gator.html
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070729/CPINSOLITE/70729018/5406/CPINSOLITE
http://www.20min.ch/news/kreuz_und_quer/story/25632175 29 July 07 Gator Hunting 101: Classes with teeth
A state-run seminar at the Tampa, Florida State Fairgrounds is whetting appetites wannabe alligator hunter. One hundred attended a free, two-hour seminar conducted by Steve Stiegler, a wildlife biologist in the Alligator Management Program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Several hunting guides and vendors also offered for sale an assortment of gator hunting equipment, such as harpoons and bang sticks.
Stiegler discussed the legal methods of taking gators, safety and hunting techniques and equipment. He showed a video detailing skinning, tanning and meat processing. Last year, 6,419 gators were harvested in Florida, where gators have been found in all 67 counties.
Tom Hawe, a guide from Zephyrhills who takes out licensed hunters in Lake Hancock south of Lakeland, prefers unconventional gator hunting. "I go out with a deep-sea fishing pole and bait the hook with Wal-Mart chickens," He said. "The conventional way is to go out with an airboat or outboard rig, shine a light in the water and come up on 'em. Then they throw weighted treble hooks and try to snag 'em or throw a spear."
Those attending
the seminar had permits; an alligator farming license costs $270 and a
farming agent license to assist in harvesting costs $50. All members on
a hunting boat are required to be licensed.
http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB10YVXO4F.html
27 July 07 Alligator rumor Closes Massachusetts beach
In
Massachusetts, USA, the town beach at Meadow Pond was closed for about
three hours yesterday afternoon as police followed up on what was
described as a rumor of a pet alligator being let loose there. Town
Manager Theodore D. Kozak said “It was probably just a rumor more than
anything factual.” http://www.telegram.com/article/20070727/DIGESTS/707270645&Search 27 July 07 Police searching for pot Find
alligator heads in freezer
Baxter County
sheriff's deputies expected to find a large marijuana plant growing near
a man's driveway after receiving a tip about it. What they didn't expect
to find were three alligator heads in the man's freezer. http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20070727/APN/707270705
29 July 07 Upkeep of Indian crocodile farm sought
India’s Conservation of Nature Society (CNS) has requested the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to take necessary steps in the wake of reports about the ‘dilapidated condition’ of the wire-mesh at the Peruvannamozhi crocodile farm.
The farm,
situated in the Kuttiyadi Irrigation project area, now has five
crocodiles — four adults and a baby. It was set up in 1977 and is now a
major tourist attraction.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/29/stories/2007072952060300.htm
01 July 07 The Great Arkansas Alligator Hunt
Wildlife Technician Mike Harris of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission explains procedures for and techniques of handling ‘nuisance gators’ in his state.
The
state's first ever alligator hunt starts in less than two months. It
will be held September 21 - 23 and September 28 - 30. To read all
the rules and regulations click
http://www.agfc.com/hunting/alligator.aspx.
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=50024 01 August 07 Annie the alligator doing fine in Petaluma
The search is on for a permanent home for orphaned Annie, a 40-inch/1 metre; 8 lb/3.6 kg alligator found July 15 on the banks of California’s Sacramento River.
Bonnie Cromwell, owner of Classroom Safari, explained that alligators can only be released to facilities licensed for their care. “There are a lot of people who might want to take in an alligator, but don’t have a clue about what they are getting into with an animal that can grow to anywhere from 400 lbs/180 kg to 1,500 lbs/ 680 kg,” she said. “There are several places around that are licensed to take alligators, but they already have alligators and can’t take any more.”
http://www1.arguscourier.com/article/20070801/NEWS01/70731005 01 August 07 Authorities capture 2nd alligator in 2 weeks In Berks creek
Boyertown, Pennsylvania authorities captured the second alligator in two weeks in a local creek.
Police closed the nearby road while Harry D. Brown III, executive director of the Animal Rescue League of Berks County waded into the creek.
"I poked him a few times to get him to lift his head, and then I used a catch pole to put a line around his neck so he wouldn't get away," Brown said. "The teeth aren't real big, but ... they bite fast and thrash and spin. If they get your arm, something's going to give, and it's not their teeth."
Brown said the
alligator was being taken to the Rescue League's Cumru Township
headquarters and probably would be transferred to a facility for
alligators.
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2007/08/01/ap-state-pa/d8qo51g83.txt 01 August 07 Virginia family fears alligator's on the loose
A Portsmouth, Virginia family says they spotted an alligator in the water near their home. (Video report at URL)
"… there were two ducks swimming and it just jumped up and snapped one of the ducks and took it under and the other one flew away." http://www.wvec.com/news/local/stories/wvec_local_080107_alligator_ 01 August 07 The Simpsons are coming!
[As an ‘added feature’, The Croc Press is proud to present (for one time only) a movie review (well, just an excerpt really). Keep an eye on this space for future croc-related weather, sports and maybe even a ‘Dear Alli’ or a Help Wanted column! -Wes]
Best Simpson lines:
On death: ‘Don’t worry. Being eaten by a crocodile
is just like going to sleep. In a giant blender.’ 31 July 07 Police close investigation into croc maiming
Australian police have had to close their investigation into who maimed one of the Northern Territory's large saltwater crocodiles (or, Indopacific Crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus), because of a lack of evidence. (see 17 July 07 Bullet-ridden monster croc euthanized and 23 July 07 Monster croc's head taken as trophy.)
[Ed: I’m a bit confused with the development of this story; In one past item we’re told that the croc’s skull was stolen by poachers, now we’re informed that the Rangers have it for forensic testing. Did I miss an item somewhere? - Wes]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/31/1993375.htm?site=darwin 31 July 07 Runaway Ohio gator earns family a court date (Jane Hawes)
Irwin, a 7-month-old, 3 lb/1.4 kg, 28 in/.7m American alligator, hopped his harness last week and made straight for a lake that borders Dave Tolley's Powell, Ohio backyard.
His efforts earned his owner two minor-misdemeanor charges of failure to register exotic-animal ownership as well a first-degree misdemeanor charge of failure to report an exotic animal's escape to local law enforcement within one hour.
Powell Police Chief Gary Vest said that Powell, like other municipalities in Ohio, requires the owners of exotic animals to notify the city's zoning inspector when they acquire such a pet. "It's a matter of us being able to inspect the cage and make sure that the owner has insurance," Vest said.
The minor
misdemeanors carry fines of about $100 each and failure to report an
animal's escape has a maximum penalty of $1,000 and six months in jail http://www.columbusdispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/
31/gator.ART_ART_07-31-07_B1_0G7EP66.html 31 July 07 Thousands hope to take part In Arkansas Fall alligator hunt
This fall, Arkansas will host its first modern alligator hunt--and there's been an overwhelming response with 3,000 applying for one of the 40 permits.
The Game and
Fish Commission estimates there are probably between 3,000 to 4,000
alligators living here in Arkansas.”
http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0707/443818.html 29 July 07 New home for captured Malaysian croc
The 90 kg/198 lb, 2.8 metre/ 9 foot Malaysian saltwater crocodile trapped by Kelantan Wildlife and Natural Parks Department rangers near the Sultan Yahaya Petra bridge in Kota Baru on Saturday found a new home at the Malacca Zoo. This was the same animal that attacked a 68-year-old carpenter a week ago. (See 24 July 07 Man bitten and bruised by croc 14 times).
Meanwhile in
Kota Baru, the attack victim, whose daily ritual included taking a bath
in Sungai Kelantan, has sworn not to do so although the crocodile had
been captured.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/20070730080700/Article/index_html
26 July 07 Louisiana alligator population on the rise
The latest alligator research in coastal Louisiana shows that the number of alligators is on the rise, an important fact following the loss of coastal alligator populations after Hurricane Katrina's devastation.
2007 has provided more rainfall and better overall conditions to dramatically increase nest production across southern Louisiana. Biologist Scooter Trosclair with the Rockefeller Refuge stated " This year, we're looking at roughly 42,000 coastal nests."
The following is data collected by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries:
*Louisiana
Coastal Marsh Alligator Nest Production: 2006: 20,400
nests 2007: 42,200 nests
*Louisiana
Alligator Nest Production for Coastal Marshes by Region and Ownership: 2006: SW
Private- 1,047 SW Public- 972 SE
Private-17,176 SE Public-1,192 2007: SW
Private-11,798 SW Public-3,987 SE Private-23,109
SE Public-3,260
http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6842904&nav=0nqx
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