Child dies after alligator attack - buenosairesherald.com

15 January 2012


A seven year old boy died today after being attacked by an alligator in Corrientes province. 

The incident took place as the child and his elder brother walked along a stream near Colonia Progreso area.

Corrientes province Police sources said that the two boys, whose surname is Cuevas, played along Santa Lucía stream, 300 hundred metres away from their home.The water in the stream is dark and full of water hyacinths, thus making visibility harder.

A lurking alligator attacked the child as his brother ran home to ask for help. The 7 year old received critical injuries in his neck and died before medical services could arrive.

Alligator hunter finds unexpected TV fame with 'Swamp People' - al.com

15 January 2012
There are folks who, no matter how hard they try in life, can't seem to get a break. Then there are those such as Troy Landry who, without asking, just fall into good fortune.

For four decades, Landry churned out a meager existence in the hot Louisiana sun, catching crawfish and alligators. Then came that pesky call from the History Channel a few years ago.

Landry, the lovable alligator hunter with the syrup-thick Cajun accent on the hit TV show "Swamp People," was in Dallas County near Selma, deer hunting with his son Jacob this past week. Over a full plate of fried and boiled shrimp from Alabama's Gulf, Landry recounted his incredible rise to stardom.

Being a household name and having merchandise with his name, face and his everyday sayings in almost every major retail outlet in America is more than he ever could have imagined, he says. It just kind of happened.

The 50-year-old Landry said he got a call from a game warden several years back, telling him he had given Landry's phone number to some outfit in New York. That group was considering doing a TV documentary on alligator hunting in Louisiana. Landry called the producers out of courtesy to his friend.

The producers said they wanted to follow him around for an entire season of catching alligators. Landry told them no way. The alligator season in Louisiana is just one month long and he was way too busy during that month to fool with them, he said. He eventually caved in and agreed on two days.

The group followed him around, shot its footage and returned home. Landry figured that was probably the end of that.

Many Yankees tend to find parts of Southern lifestyles incredulous. The producers of the documentary showed the terrifying footage around and everyone agreed it would be better suited for a weekly series than a documentary.

"They called back and said they wanted to come see me," Landry said. "They told me they wanted to follow me around for a whole season and make a weekly show out of it. They said they'd pay all my expenses and pay my help. I still wasn't interested. I couldn't imagine anybody but a few hunters and maybe a few fishermen being interested in a show like that."

It was about that time that the bottom fell out of the Asian stock market, Landry said. While most of the alligator meat was sold in the U.S., most of the hides were sold in Asia where they were used in fashion. The price of hides fell from $45 each to $12.

Landry's wife, Bernita, told him the offer from the TV producers might be heaven-sent. If nothing else, they would pay his expenses in these tough times. Landry agreed.

The History Channel filmed the first season in 2009 and the show debuted in August 2010. The premiere drew 3.1 million viewers. Word of the TV show with the crazy Cajun alligator wranglers spread across America. It didn't hurt that the likes of Regis and Kelly, who are big fans, talked about "Swamp People" on their show, which attracted an audience no one really expected.

It didn't take long before Landry's popular phrase "Choot 'em" (shoot him) had become one of those phrases like "Git-R-Done" and "Where's the beef?" that caught on in the U.S.

Landry trademarked the phrase along with others. A clothing company bought the rights to his image and his trademarked sayings. Hats and T-shirts bearing Landry's likeness and sayings are sold by retail outlets across the U.S. including Academy in Birmingham.

"I don't do nothing," Landry said. "They just send me money. The History Channel don't get none of dat."

The final episode of season two recently aired and it drew 5.5 million viewers. It was the No. 1 show on cable TV that night and the No. 2 show in all of television. Season three was filmed in September and will debut in February.

Landry says he knows it will all eventually come to an end, but meanwhile he's dealing with his new-found fame. People somehow find his new home in Pierre Part, La., he said, and knock on his door from daylight to dark. He was recently chosen Louisiana's Man of the Year and he says he can't possibly make all the personal appearances he is being asked to attend.

"It's pretty overwhelming," he said. "That's why I love getting off with my son and going hunting with all these kids. I enjoy dat."

Strong words from the ignorant...

I found this comment on a story from a Maldivian online news site. Somehow I don't think being Muslim has anything to do with his preferences.

We, as humans, should not have to tolerate Markaz!

Markaz on Mon, 17th Jan 2011 5:26 PM 

"Crocodiles are disgusting and vile creatures. We, as Muslims, should not have to tolerate them."

Terror as crocodile lunges at family in Weipa - cairns.com.au

31 December 2011

TWO children and their fathers narrowly escaped the jaws of a large crocodile that lunged at them from the same creek where a man was badly mauled earlier this year.

The 4.5m saltie launched itself from the water in a surprise attack on Weipa man Jarrad Ireland, his son Benji, 2, Mr Ireland’s brother Ryan and his daughter Laylah, 3.

The men were sitting on quad bikes near the shoreline of Trunding Creek when the ordeal unfolded.

"It came out of the water and lunged at us," Mr Ireland said, adding the small children screamed and burst into tears.

"It had its mouth open. We just reversed and got out of there."

Ironically, Mr Ireland went to Trunding Creek to show his brother where Todd Bairstow was almost killed last March in an attack by a 300kg saltwater crocodile, which locked its jaws around his legs and crushed them as it went into a death roll.

Another Weipa resident said a large crocodile recently "stalked" her from the water while she was walking her dogs near Trunding Creek.

Mr Ireland is urging others to keep away from the creek, saying he and his family had been several metres from the water’s edge when the crocodile lunged at them on Christmas Day.

"It got pretty close and it was a pretty big croc," he said. "It was pretty scary for all of us."

Longtime resident Cal Seaborn said Trunding Creek was a well known crocodile nesting habitat and it was dangerous to be near the water, especially with the current king tides that allow crocodiles to hide in deeper water closer to shore.

"People need to be aware. It’s only a matter of time before we have a fatality," he said.

Mr Ireland reported the incident to the Department of Environment and Resource Management and officers surveyed the area but they could not find the crocodile.

Signs have been erected to warn people about the recent croc sighting.

Croc sightings can be reported at 1300 130 372.

Italian drug dealer guarded stash with 'mini alligator' - foxnews.com

13 January 2012


ROME  An Italian drug dealer was arrested after police raided his Rome home and discovered a caiman - a small crocodilian with sharp, snappy jaws - guarding his stash of narcotics, the ANSA news agency reported Friday.

The caiman, which was described as "undernourished," was guarding a variety of drugs including cannabis.

"The young animal, almost a meter [three feet] long, was a dangerous species, capable of biting off a man's hand with a single bite," police were quoted as saying.

The caiman was taken to an animal shelter. The owner was being held on drug-trafficking charges, as well as animal mistreatment.

Reptile keepers raid alligator nest - theherald.com.au

13 January 2012

Five brave reptile keepers were involved in an American alligator nest raid today at the Australian Reptile Park at Somersby.

The alligators at the park usually lay their eggs between Christmas and New Year, but were running a little late due to the cool weather.

Four of the reptile keepers restrained the female alligator while the fifth raided the nest, removing up to 60 eggs.

Plenty of care and man power was needed as the mother is an excellent protector and will aggressively guard up to 400 eggs that she lays.

Some of the eggs are selected for incubation until they hatch about 70 days later.

The Australian Reptile Park is the only zoo in Australia that breeds American alligators and supplies zoos both around the country and internationally.

A GATOR GIG: Fud's hiring alligator handler as part of normal turnover - thedestinlog.com

9 January 2012

DESTIN — Wanted: Somebody who has excellent customer service skills, is comfortable working with children, and enjoys working in a “fast-paced environment.”

You better be fast — you’ll be catching and holding alligators. With luck, the gators won’t be catching you.

That’s the job Fudpucker’s in Destin is trying to fill: alligator handler at its Gator Beach attraction.