Crocodile bursts in tears after swallowing zoo visitor’s mobile phone - rt.com

20 July 2011

A croc named Gena at a Ukrainian zoo had to undergo surgery after eating an unusual lunch.

The 14-year-old reptile swallowed a mobile telephone after a visitor dropped it into his cage.

The woman tried ringing the phone in the hope this would make Gena cough it back up, but it only gave him a huge fright.

The zoo’s employees say that the crocodile is going through an enormously stressful time. The reptile barely moves, does not eat and has digestion problems. Luckily, other members of the crocodile family are very supportive of their leader.

Zoo keepers thought Gena would lose the phone when nature took its course, but it seems the fright caused by the ringing has tensed him up too much.

They even tried to feed the reptile with laxative-stuffed partridges, but Gena turned away from his favorite meal.

“We have ordered special transport to bring Gena to the vet,” the zoo administrators said. “We pray only that he survived the operation. We are so worried about him.”

Meanwhile, the owner of the mobile phone that caused such a stir told journalists that she does not care for the crocodile at all – the only thing she is interested in is getting her cell back, as it holds many memorable photographs.

The woman added that she was not going to pay for the operation anyway, as she is, in fact, the victim.

OK... So can anyone work out which one is the fake...??

Born This Way: Born Freaky - ibtimes.com

Uthen Youngprapakorn, executive director of Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo, looks at a pair of newly-born rare baby crocodile twins, joined at the hips, southeast of Bangkok on June 26, 2001. The Thai farm, home to many thousands of fresh water crocodiles which are both on display to the public and also killed for their skin and meat, is appealing for international help to save the reptiles.

Monster croc attack survivor Todd Bairstow faces his fears with visit to Marineland Melanesia, Green Island - couriermail.com.au

17 July 2011

AFTER the horror that Todd Bairstow experienced, you would think the last thing he would want to do would be to go anywhere near a crocodile.

The 29-year-old miner stunned the world in March when he defied the odds to survive a crocodile attack near Weipa on Cape York Peninsula.

For half an hour he fought a large saltie that held him by the legs and was trying to drag him into the creek he had been fishing in moments before.

The croc had bitten off one of Mr Bairstow's fingers and both his legs were broken as the hungry reptile repeatedly went into a death roll.

But Mr Bairstow managed to cling to mangroves as he punched and kicked the croc, gouged its eyes and tried to pull its jaws apart.

Eventually, his screams were heard by a mate who managed to beat the determined beast off with a stick.

Now, still recovering from the horrendous mauling that nearly ended his life, Mr Bairstow has come face to face with his demons - and one of them is as big as they come.

Overcoming a racing heart and sweaty palms, the Rio Tinto worker met Cassius, a massive 5.5m-plus crocodile, at Marineland Melanesia on Green Island.

"I had to face my fears and look a croc in the eye again," Mr Bairstow told The Sunday Mail.

"I had been thinking about them (crocodiles) a lot and had just finished reading a book on croc attacks so I knew I had to do something to get over mine.

"We had never been to Green Island so I just thought it was a good time to do both."

"It definitely got my heart racing when I heard the crocs growling (during his visit to Green Island)," he said.

"When I met Cassius all I could think was, hell, if he'd got me I wouldn't be here today."

Mr Bairstow watched as Cassius, the world's largest captive crocodile, was fed.

He admits the experience sent shivers up his spine but he got his own back when he got to hold a baby crocodile.

"I put its tail between my teeth as a bit of a joke," he said.

Marineland Melanesia manager Sudama "Toody" Scott said Mr Bairstow reached for a cigarette after coming face to face with Cassius.

"In terms of overcoming fears he couldn't have picked a bigger croc to visit," Mr Scott said.

It is understood Cassius will feature in the next edition of the Guinness World Records.

Mr Scott would not reveal Cassius' recently recorded size except to say he was 5.5m-plus.

Aligator egg harvest.... - marconews.com

17 July 2011

July is usually a good time to collect alligator eggs. But that’s only true when there’s a normal rainfall in late February that continues without flooding.

This year we were very dry in the early part of the year and a rather sparse alligator mating season left us with 70 percent fewer eggs gathered this year.

In a normal year, the females begin nesting early to mid-June when they will build-up a nest and lay their eggs. Nests are built into a round, mound-type structure at night and are built from natural vegetation, e.g., broomsedge, bullwhip, cutgrass, wiregrass, available annuals and soil.

Courtship and breeding occur between April and July, depending on temperature/weather conditions in deep water.

A female may start several nests before a single nest is successfully completed. Eggs are deposited at the top of the mound and then sink to the center forming layers with vegetation. Finally, the eggs are covered with approximately one foot of vegetation. All nesting activity usually occurs within a two week period.

Nesting rates for adult females in the wild average around 60 to 70 percent where habitat and environmental conditions are excellent. That means three feet or more water for mating and no flooding.

The method and timing of egg collection is very important. Alligator embryos are very sensitive to handling (mechanical injury) from 7 to 28 days after they are laid. Many embryos will die if handled during this period.

Most alligator eggs cannot be turned or repositioned when taken from the nest (unlike bird eggs). Eggs should be marked with an “X” across the top before removing them from the nest so that they can be maintained during transport and incubation in the same position as they were laid.

Eggs that are laid upright in the nest (long axis perpendicular to the ground) will die unless repositioned correctly (long axis parallel or lying on its side and not on end) before artificial incubation. This repositioning can only take place in the first few hours after nesting.

The best hatching rates for eggs left in the wild are less than 70 percent. Hatching rates for eggs taken from the wild and incubated artificially average 90 percent or higher.

Clutch size varies with age and condition of the female. Large and older females generally lay more eggs. Clutch size should average 35 to 40 eggs (range 2 to 58).

Egg fertility can vary from 70 to 95 percent. Embryo survival can also vary from 70 to 95 percent. Hatching rate varies from 50 to 90 percent. Egg fertility, embryo survival, and hatching rate of eggs taken from the wild and incubated artificially are 95, 95, and 90 percent, respectively.

With nature out of balance, who knows what will avail itself as a problem.