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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.
By Wes von Papineäu News Page Editor Email: crocnews@crocodopolis.net _________________________________________________
Week of 26 November 06
02
December 06
Orange River gator fearless - Its last mistake
A
8-foot long Florida gator that has been approaching boaters while
looking for hand-outs is now being hunted as a "nuisance
alligator" - such is defined by law as being at least 4 feet long
and posing a threat to people, pets or property.
Last year, the state received more than 18,000 nuisance alligator
calls, and licensed trappers removed more than 7,700 alligators.
01 December 06 Chill may send gators on retreat - Complaints rise with temperature
With cooler temperatures headed that way, Louisiana gator trappers are looking forward to a lull in local gator activity. http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/riverparishes/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1164957
01 December 06 Emergency phone call Led cops to gator victim
An update on the Apgar-gator event, with emphasis on the 9-1-1 emergency services' involvement. The URL includes links to photo and video coverage http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-gatorfolo0106dec01, 0,7786374.story?coll=orl-home-headlines
01 December 06 FL wildlife official reminds: No feeding gators
Someone was seen feeding an alligator at the same lake where a man lost his arm to a gator bite. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman declared that the gator-feeder was "...jeopardizing everyone who comes in contact with that alligator." http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061201/NEWS/61201
01 December 06 Alligator soup: Chinese restaurant raises eyebrows With dishes of endangered reptile
A Chinese restaurant is offering special menus with unique ingredients including the head and tail of the endangered "alligator sinensis". The wild population of this species is estimated to be falling by 4 percent to 6 percent a year according to Chinese officials. Captive breeding centres hatch 1,500 of the type each year. The alligators slaughtered for food are only those in the third generation of captive breeding - those most likely to be affected by inbreeding. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/01/asia/AS_ODD_China_Alligator_Soup.php http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-12/01/content_748005.htm Photo source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-11/28/content_745129.htm
30 November 06 Snappy result for university study Australian researchers have learned that tourists like crocodiles, koalas and kangaroos. However, men really, really like crocs! Based on this item, you can now approach your doting spouse with an inarguable, genetically-driven reason to turn your garage into the croc-terrarium of your dreams. http://www.abc.net.au/farnorth/stories/s1800869.htm?backyard 29 November 06 Naked man high on crack Rescued from alligator
More details on the Lake Parker gator incident. Booze was apparently not a factor. http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/A rticle_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1164840610479&col=968705899 037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News 29 November 06 Alligator, Caiman, Whatever. It's Out Back. ( Robert Stolarik)
Detailed update on the New York City caiman seizure. Nice photo of the business end of our favourite subject http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/nyregion/29lizard.html?_r=1&ref=ny 29 November 06 Florida Man Loses Arm to Alligator During Attack A Florida man was taken to hospital in critical condition with an apparent broken right arm, leg injuries and a partially amputated left arm. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/16123306.htm
29 November 06 Alligators return to British coast - After 30 million years
UK Reptile expert Jerry Cole has successfully bred Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news. html?in_article_id=419468&in_page_id=1770
28 November 06 NYC Police Capture ' Caiman - In - The - Box'
New York police find an abandoned caiman in a cardboard box. A local Animal Care & Control official claimed that the previous owner was "concerned that nobody got hurt ... The (muzzle-restraining) shoestring was double-knotted for safety, like a running shoe.'' http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Croc-in-the-Box.html?_r=1&o
28 November 06 Croc can't go on - Top predator of river systems, Crocodiles, are threatened
In 1970, research found that the gharial crocodiles were poached rampantly, killed for their skin or even trapped inadvertently in fishing nets. In 1974, another survey by Whitaker, confirmed all the worst years. That year the gharials numbered fewer than 200 in the wild. Exact figures aren't available, but conservationists estimate that in the 1940s, the Indian subcontinent had between 5,000 to 10,000 gharials.
Sixteen
crocodile rehabilitation centres and five crocodile sanctuaries -
National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS), Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS),
Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary, Son Gharial Sanctuary and Ken Gharial
Sanctuary - were established between 1975 and 1982. Eight hundred and
seventy-nine gharials, 190 estuarine crocodiles, and 493 mugger
crocodiles were released into the wild in that period. In 1997-1998,
monitoring exercises by the forest departments of Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh located more than 1,200 gharials and more
than 75 nests in NCS. But no survey was carried out between 1999 and
2003. And the 2003 survey showed catastrophic resu
27
November 06
Could Global Warming Be Crushing Blow to Crocodiles?
Rising
temperatures may disrupt gender balance among reptile populations, says
Earthwatch-supported crocodile researcher Dr. Alison Leslie of
University of Stellenbosch. "A difference of 0.5 - 1:C[elsius] in
incubation temperature results in markedly different sex ratios,"
says Leslie. http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/umwelt_naturschutz/
27
November 06
Two-ton KZN croc email a hoax
South
African emails claiming that an 80-year-old crocodile had been killed
and was on display at Ushaka Marine World in KwaZulu-Natal were a hoax,
a conservation organization said.
The
crocodile was described as seven meters long and more than two tons in
weight and at 80 years old was "too old" to catch animals and
was therefore after humans. http://iafrica.com/news/sa/469754.htm
26
November 06
Cuba's Largest Breeding Site Of Crocodile Species
With
the opening of a research center in the eastern Cuban province of Las
Tunas, a significant step has been taken towards the protection of area
reptiles; experts consider this locale to be the largest natural
sanctuary of the acutus crocodile in this region.
The attention given to this protected area has permitted the
study of the formation of crocodile nests, which is one of the main
challenges for the reproduction of this species. In fact, of the 14,500
hectares covered by the Las Tunas wetlands, only nine are fit for the
female crocodiles to lay eggs.
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