Maximo!



Photo taken by Anthony Baker at St Augustine Alligator Farm

As a person who loves crocodilians St Augustine Alligator Farm is one of my favorite places on earth! If you are ever in the area St Augustine Alligator Farm is an amazing zoo where you can see all 24 species of crocodilians.

However their saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Maximo, is a great animal. At 15' 3" long and weighting over 1,200 pounds he is a very impressive sight to behold! Below are a series of links both to videos online of Maximo and links to St Augustine Alligator Farm website.

Videos of Maximo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKrZLbHhQz4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S57vYKhV40A

St Augustine Alligator Farm website
http://www.alligatorfarm.com/
http://www.alligatorfarm.com/maximo.html

Seized pet American Alligater

(Credit: Photo taken by Anthony Baker at St. Augustine Alligator Farm)

A pet American Alligator was seized 6 months ago from a home in California, when the owner failed to have the proper permit for the animal. The family owned the animal for 30 years wen it was seized. A couple of days ago the pet Alligator, named Chopper, died in state custody.

 

 

I a have few mixed feelings about captive crocodilians, but it seems this family took great care of this animal for decides. In any event no matter what side you come down on the debate it is a sad outcome for the animal.  



Source:

http://abc7.com/pets/alligator-dies-after-being-taken-from-rancho-cucamonga-owner-by-fish-and-wildlife/557337/

Update: Galapagos Tortoises on Pinzón Island!

(Credit: Wikimedia)

On 1/27/2015 I posted an article about the return of baby Galapagos Tortoises on the Pinzón Island. In another article I found (which I have linked to in the sources section) they was a population survey done on the Pinzón Island which shows great growth in the population. In 1959,they estimated there where 100 to 200 adult Tortoises. Today there is an estimated over 500 Tortoises on the Pinzón Island. This is a great considering these animals take 40 years to reach sexual maturity, however not all of these tortoises were born on the island, but where released.

Sources:
http://www.galapagos.org/blog/pinzon-tortoise-survey-part1/
http://www.galapagos.org/blog/pinzon-tortoise-survey-part2/

Playing Crocs!!!

Credit: Vladimir Dinets

Based on an article titled "Play behavior in crocodilians" published in Animal Behavior and Cognition by Vladimir Dinets crocodiles have been shown to display play behavior.

The article suggest that crocodilians exhibit three different types of play behavior: play with objects, social play and locomotor play. This comes as a surprise to me as I have heard other accounts by croc experts who believed that crocodiles do not play. This study suggest that crocodiles can play with one another and even play with objects such as balls.

Although this study suggests crocodiles do exhibit play behavior the author does mention

"Even though these observations of apparent play behavior are mostly singular and, if taken separately, allow for alternative explanations (some of which are mentioned in Results section), combined they present strong evidence that play might be a more regular part of crocodilian behavioral repertoire than currently recognized."

So it seems more studies and observations will have to be performed before the argument is closed.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150210212044.htm

Crocodiles eat poachers!

(Credit: Wikimedia)

 

Tourist in Zimbabwe came upon a pretty nasty site when they where touring the Zambezi river as the found a group of crocodiles consuming a human body.

 

The person is believed to be from Zambia and to have died during gun fight with other poachers and not the crocodiles. However the crocodiles most likely took the opportunity to eat when they found the body.

 

Sources

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/british-tourists-crocodiles-eating-human-legs-report-article-1.2154532

Supersize Crocs (Documentary)







I wanted to share this "Nature" documentary looks at Giant Crocodiles around the world. It also features Romulus Whitaker founder of the Crocodile Trust Bank in India.

 

It looks at how big the large crocodilians can grow.

Nature link
Buy the DVD from nature

Gator on a golf course!!!

Credit: http://www.wptv.com/news/state/massive-gator-spotted-on-florida-golf-course

 

I thought I would share this as I saw it everywhere on mainstream news outlets. This photo was taken in Florida. This kind of surprised me that this made the rounds on the news networks because in Florida there are over 1 million Alligators and they are often quite common on golf courses (which often have lakes), but it is a news article about alligators in major news networks and that cant be all bad.

Source

http://www.wptv.com/news/state/massive-gator-spotted-on-florida-golf-course

Saltwater crocodiles killed in the Northern Territory, Australia

Credit: http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/slain-saltwater-crocodiles-found-mutilated-at-dundee-beach/comments-fnk0b1zt-1227247283102

Over the past year 10 crocodiles have been found killed in the Northern Territory in Australia. These killings are illegal and appear to have been done for trophy hunting.

Although the killings themselves are sad, the comments section on the "NT News" article are even worse with people saying things like "That's two down, only 89,998 left to go. Oh My God, they call this illegal" and "Good. Kill some more."

These animals where not nuisance animals and therefore their was no justification for these killings. Hopefully these animal will one day get the respect they deserve.

Source
http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/slain-saltwater-crocodiles-found-mutilated-at-dundee-beach/comments-fnk0b1zt-1227247283102

New postings

I know I didn't make any post during the month of February. This is because school got in the way on me reading a lot of articles, however I have taken to it recently to writing post and scheduling them to come out in the future just so there are new postings on a regular basis. I have deicded to make the new posting pop up on Fridays, so look forward to a new post every Friday until May (I have them written up to that point).

To hold you over to this Friday here is a photo of a Galapagos Tortoise.


Credit: Photo taken by Anthony Baker at St Augustine Alligator Florida

Why would someone do this?

Credit: http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Turtles-Tortoises/Information-News/Man-Faces-6-Months-in-Jail-For-Standing-on-Galapagos-Tortoise/

Someone posted to twitter an image of themselves standing on a Galapagos Tortoise!!

These animals are very endangered and it is very sad that someone would do this just to post it to a social network site. According to the article this man could face up to 6 months in jail for standing on this beautiful animal.

Original article
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Turtles-Tortoises/Information-News/Man-Faces-6-Months-in-Jail-For-Standing-on-Galapagos-Tortoise/

Virgin birth in the Reticulated Python

(http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141023-virgin-birth-pythons-snakes-animals-science/)

The Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus) the world longest snake, with a recorded length of 6.95 meters (22' 9") in the published literature being the longest I am aware of, has displayed parthenogenesis for the first time.

Parthenogenesis, or asexual reproduction, has been recorded in other large predators, such as sharks and even other snakes.

Thelma, an 11 year old snake calls the Louisville zoo home where in 2012 she gave had 6 eggs which produced offspring.

Reticulated python article