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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 24 June 07
27 June 07 Welcome, back, Wes. -I. D.
27 June 07 Gator taken from Reading woman Moved to Poconos Exodus, the
5-foot/ 1.5 meter-long alligator taken from a city woman will be waking
up in the Pocono Snake & Animal Farm in Marshalls Creek. The Berks
County Humane Society took Exodus from its owner, Dawnelle J. Theilacker,
30, who had kept him as an illegal pet for five years. A violation
carries a fine of at least $1,000, but Theilacker was not fined because
she cooperated, officials said.
http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=47655 26 June 07 'Gators escape lives of crime
The American alligator population at the Monroe
County Sheriff's Office Children's Animal Park went from one to four
last Wednesday when three of the reptiles confiscated during a Colorado
drug raid, were flown in to make a new home in the Keys.
http://www.keynoter.com/articles/2007/06/26/news/news03.txt
27 June 07 Florida alligators battle pesticides
The magazine
Environmental Science & Technology
reports that the poor survival rates of alligator eggs are linked
to lingering toxic chemicals in lakes.
Scientists began
to notice the effect of agricultural run-off OCPs such as chlordane,
toxaphene, and dieldrin on the reproductive systems of alligators in
Florida lakes in the early 1990s. Louis Guillette of the University of
Florida recorded that pesticides in the marshes were causing the male
gators to have smaller penises and the females to have abnormal egg
development. The findings have important implications for restoring
wetlands.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2007/june/science/rc_alligators.html
28 June 07 Crocodile Attack in Choiseul Province
A six year
old girl is still missing in what is presumed to be a crocodile attack
last Monday at Kakaza village in the Solomon Islands.
http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=337 28 June 07 Are there more gators in the Pennypack? Just when you thought it was safe By the water in Pennsylvania Following after 26 June 07 "Second gator found in Pennsylvania creek," there seems to be a distinct lack of ‘Reggie-mania’ in placid Pennsylvania, notwithstanding local premonition that more predators prowl in picturesque Pennypack Creek.
Two alligators have been captured at the creek in the last week. Officials were preparing to post warning signs on the waterway, while mothers kept a careful eye on their children and everyone else sank their teeth into a good mystery. "You want to be more cautious," said Buddy Mullen, the public works director. "It's like that movie Jaws, when they tell you it's safe to go in the water and then you see that fin."
Officials believe both gators were dumped by an owner tired of caring for them. And they can't help but wonder: If you find a mommy and a baby, does that mean Big Daddy may be out there?
KYW Newsradio took care to
point out that "alligators are not indigenous to the Philadelphia area,"
and the NBC10 Web site featured links to "News," "Entertainment"
and "Gator Warning." Its story reported that the alligators have been
"terrorizing people."
http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/8219977.html 28 June 07 How would Tiger handle a gator? Gators and golfers
continue to putter around each other (see 26 June 07
"One-eyed gator
attacks Florida golfer")
the latest two-some reported being that of Corinne Fiske and a golf ball
gulping gator near Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA. The gator
apparently has expensive tastes.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003765811_grin28e.html 28 June 07 Bowman's crocs on the rocks
From the UK we get a very sympathetic interview with a local radio personality Edith Bowman and her efforts to educate her listeners as to the plight of the Siamese crocodile.
“I always like
the underdog and the crocodile’s a bit like that. He’s not cuddly, he’s
not furry and everyone’s scared of him — so he doesn’t really get a
look-in.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001320029-2007290602,00.html 27 June 07 Man in trouble for making alligator a pet
In Chatsworth, Georgia, USA officials have cited 22-year-old Justin Charles for being in possession of a wild animal without a permit and possession of a wild animal without insurance. After he removed a 33-in/84 cm -long alligator from a private pond.
A court date is set for July 24 but Judge Adams says
Charles has been told he can pay a fine of $121 before the court date.
Charles says he wanted the alligator as a pet because "It was just so
neat."
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/06/27/0627gator.html
26 June 07 Gharials fighting for survival in Mahanadi
Three surviving Indian Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are fighting to survive in Mahanadi, the only natural habitat in the state of Orissa.
A UNDP-sponsored gharial breeding programme released some hatchlings into the area in 1980 and again six years later, but their survival in the wild showed declining trend over the years, thanks to a host of factors such as hydrological regime, construction of structures upstream of Mahanadi altering the flow pattern and the hydro-periods and the biotic interference such as destructive fishing and river pollution. The release project appears to have been discontinued, though captive breeding efforts are still underway, albeit with mixed results.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20070627001414&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0
26 June 07 After gator attack, media attack Despite national media attention, the victim is avoiding the spotlight
A tourist who
survived a golf course ambush by an 11-foot alligator Monday woke up
Tuesday to find himself stalked by another creature: the media. The Herald-Tribune story about Tennessee resident Bruce Burger's lost golf ball -- and the one-eyed gator that tried to rip his arm off when he went after it -- became an instant hit with news outlets across the country. (Editor’s Note: See partial list of international coverage below with the entry "One-eyed gator attacks Florida golfer.")
Rod Parry, the
general manager at the Lake Venice Golf Club where the attack occurred,
said he received more than 15 requests from reporters Tuesday, and
television camera crews stopped by to get footage of the infamous sixth
hole pond. But the manager
said he shooed the press away when Burger unexpectedly dropped by the
club about 3 p.m. to pick up some personal belongings he left following
the attack. "He has been through an awful lot," Parry said. "He needs his privacy and a little sleep."
It took
seven Florida Fish and Wildlife officials over an hour on Monday night
to trap the alligator, which later was exterminated. That news
upset some golfers who frequent the Club believe the alligators are a
unique part of the landscape that should be preserved. "It's too
bad for this unwitting tourist who encountered" the alligator, said John
Tredway, who has been playing at the course once a week for the past
five years. "But it's difficult, too, to see wildlife destroyed by
this."
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070627/NEWS/706270340
26 June 07 Prized reptile hides Tanned in Atlanta's backyard
Alligators and crocodiles are anything but beauties. Perhaps that's what attracts fashion houses such as Chanel, Gucci and Oscar de la Renta — stylemakers who covet their skin for chic "it" bags, skirts and coats that demand thousands of dollars.
When I decided to launch an exotic skin handbag line, I started researching tanneries across the country," said Atlanta, Georgia, USA -based designer Jada Loveless, whose alligator bags will be sold this fall at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. "American Tanning and Leather had a strong reputation internationally — and it was fortuitous that it was right down the road in Griffin. http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/fashion/stories/2007/06/26/0627LVleather.html
26 June 07 Second gator found in Pennsylvania creek
Animal control officers caught a second gator in Pennypack Creek in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, USA, over the weekend, just days after netting a 5 ft/1.5 m alligator in the same area. Now they fear more are lurking around the suburban waterway and are asking area children not to wade in the shallow creek. to refernce the story on the first alligator caught, please see "Loose gator netted in Pennsylvania," here. http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-06262007-1368767.html
26 June 07 One-eyed gator attacks Florida golfer
Bruce Burger was playing golf Monday afternoon at
the Lake Venice Golf Course in Venice, Florida, when he lost a ball in a
pond near the sixth hole and almost lost a limb. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070626/SUNFRONT/70626016
An updated,
supplemental local-paper-version of the one-eyed Burger-chomping gator
can be found at:
http://www.venicegondolier.com/Newsstory.cfm?pubdate=062707&story=vn1.htm&folder=NewsArchive3 International versions: Australia: http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/gator-grabs-golfer/2007/06/27/1182623969031.html Canada: http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/229821 Mexico:
http://www.milenio.com/index.php/2007/06/26/85415/
Norway:
http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/golf/article1156600.ece
Russia:
http://www.americaru.com/news/23456
Scotland:
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1001082007
Sweden:
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,1104384,00.html
24 June 07 Nike croc shoe: Return of taboo shopping
This season, fashionistas across the globe rebel against ‘ethical shopping’. Snake, lizard and alligator skin is making a comeback. With Dior sending out a dazzling collection of python and ostrich skin coats, with fox sleeves at Paris Fashion Week, a new rationale of something highly controversial, even taboo is having serious fashion resurgence. Even the high street is catching on, sportswear giant Nike unveiled a salt-water crocodile version of their popular Air Force One, for it’s 25th Anniversary of the shoe. http://www.mpdclick.com/mudpie/action/viewListItem?identifier=news&id=20285&listId=19
Related story: Cold-blooded vanity as skins become en vogue again
24 June 07 Brit radio DJ catches crocs in Cambodia
Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman ventured deep into the jungle in search of these endangered creatures for this week’s edition of the BBC series ‘Saving Planet Earth’. But, as she explains to Jenny Cockle, the beast remained elusive. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-news/article2707935.ece
24 June 07 Earthwatch seeks volunteers For Africa crocodile study
Earthwatch, an environmental organization which operates expeditions to more than 130 countries, is sponsoring a crocodile study open to volunteers. Join other international volunteers to work alongside scientists such as Dr. Alison Leslie, on a variety of projects. New for this year is a two-week "Crocodiles of the Zambezi" trip costing £1,750 per person, where you can study these reptiles, locate nests and learn about local education programmes. http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp2.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=1147559
24 June 07 Conservation is his middle name, ‘Crocodile’ his last
In Sasan, Dhanjibhai’s name is uttered in the same breath as the Forest Department’s crocodile breeding centre’s. Having rescued over 500 crocs in his two-and-a-half-decade-long career with the forest department, crocodile conservation has become Dhanjibhai’s ‘middle’ or more accurately, his ‘last name’. For, from Dhanjibhai Gohel, he’s now well known in Sasan as Dhanjibhai ‘Magarwala’. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=242781
24 June 07 Ignoring Jamaican croc habitats A pattern of bad government
This is an opinion piece on the subject of environmentalism askew in Jamaica, including the ignoring of crocodile habitat preservation and the resulting loss of benefits to other wildlife. http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070624/cleisure/cleisure3.html
24 June 07 Links to the past: Evolutionary traits May have helped crocodiles
Dinosaurs are long gone, wiped out along with lots of other creatures on the wrong end of that global estate sale 65 million years ago. But not everyone perished. Some slipped though the maelstrom, and if crocodilians could talk, oh, the stories they would tell.
“It’s a big group and an ancient group that evolved more than 220 million years ago,” said Kent Vliet, professor of zoology at the University of Florida in Gainesville and an authority on alligators.
24 June 07 Florida changing alligator hunting rules
The FWC agreed "in concept" to several new alligator management provisions, including the use of artificial lures to catch gators during harvest seasons and removing a 6- to 9-foot closed slot limit on those taken through the FWC's Private Lands Alligator Management Program. The commission voted down proposals that included allowing homeowners to kill nuisance alligators on their own - a statewide, rather than countywide permitting process - and allowing daytime recreational gator hunters to kill them with small-caliber handguns. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/062407/spo_179693112.shtml
23 June 07 Exotic-animal trade Unleashes burden on Arizona
Arizona, USA, wildlife-sanctuary operators are swamped with exotic
animals because they say criminals who sell critters on the black market
seldom face serious punishment. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0623wildlife0623.html
23 June 07 Another crocodile snagged in fishing net
A second crocodile was trapped in a fishing net in the Sadanandapuram, Tambaram, India, lake near here on Saturday, following a similar incident involving an adult crocodile two days ago. http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/24/stories/2007062450630100.htm
23 June 07 Brady Barr- Hippo bait?
National Geographic’s Dr Brady Barr returned to Malaysia recently to film the world’s largest reticulated python in captivity in Zoo Negara. During the two-day shoot, the reptile specialist was briefly surprised by a mammal — one of the zoo’s three African hippopotami, writes Heidi Foo. http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/20070623093237/Article/index_html
23 June 07
Dog lucky in encounter with gator Princess appeared to have run out of luck when an alligator snatched her in a Bartow lake. That was before Julie Balliette arrived."I just saw the ripple come up around her and it just snatched her," she said. http://www.theledger.com/article/20070623/NEWS/706230443/1039
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