SAVAGE REPTILES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 118, 11 January 1932, Page 7

SAVAGE REPTILES

LARGE CROCODILES - THOUSANDS LURK IN RIVERS AND SWAMPS OF QUEENSLAND RECENT TRAGEDY ■ In view of the cablegram in Tuesday's issue narrating how a crocodile seized a little girl from the arms 4'of her brother on the bhnks of the River Seymour in Queensland, the following article will possess exceptional interest: — .. The other day I visited the exhibit of crocodil'es in the Melbourne Museum (writes L. Gregory in the Melbourne Argus Supplement). I received the impression that crocodiles were to be found in the north of Australia but' beyond that nothing. There is a great deal to be known about Australian crocodiles. Two Varieties The most important fact is that there are two varieties of Australian, crocodile — one dangerous to man and the other practically harmless. Each species has separate haunts, and each differs from the other in appearanee. The second important point is that there are no alligators in Australia, but in the north the man-eat-ing or coast crocodile is spoken of as an "alligator" to distinguish it from its smaller fish-eating cousin, which is a gavial, sometimes known as Jchnson's crocodile. This large man-eating reptile is found in almost all the coastal rivers of North Australia. Civilisation has almost exterminated it on the eastern coast of Queensland, • but elsejj where it flourishes in thousands, and | it is increasing in number. This is f chiefly because the aborigines, who' in the old days used to search out and destroy the eggs of their otherwise invincible enemy, have become too scattered and diminished in number to continue the offensive. Infant mortality in crocodile statistics has dropped substantially. The Australian estuary crocodile is said to be the largest and most ferocious in the i world. When fully grown it mea- * sures up to 20 feet, and weighs more than a ton. I have seen specimens measuring .17 feet. It is the most powerful carnivorous creature in the world; it could handle a fully grown lion or tiger as easily as it could handle a goat. It is as quick as lightning for a short dash either on land or water. A larlce shark is readily captured, and on land the crocodile can catch game as agile as a dingo or as strong as a large bull.

Terrible Teeth In colour the estuary crocodile is mottled yellow and brown, but it appears to be dark in the water. When dry it looks grey. Both the top and bottom jaws are hinged, and they have from 66 to 64- teeth. The largest teeth are 5in long and 41in in circumferenee. At any age a new tooth grows to replace one that has been broken off. The teeth interlock in a most vicious fashion. Two large teeth on the bottom jaw project through two holes on the top jaw. There are five fingers on the front paws and four fingers on the hind paws. The four rows of hackles on the back are evidently for protection. These thicken to a solid plate of bone at the back of the neck, which carries six projecting knobs of horn. The estuary crocodile is carnivorous and eats fish, game, . or cattle. Those which can obtain cattle grow larger and heavier than others. Being a

rather primitive creature, the crocodile has wonderful vitality, and it can live for months without food. It can recover from shocking injuries by crawling away and burying itself in the mud, in which -it may stay for months in a fasting, semi-conscious condition. The female crocodile lays dozens of eggs which are hatched by natural heat generated in nests of decayed vegetation and sand. The little crocodile has to fend for itself from the beginning, and it will bite and snap when handled even at the age of a few hours. The father, and even the mother, will eat their young when they are hungry, so that only a percentage of the offspring reach maturity. "The estuary crocodile is generally a silent beast, but sometimes it is moved to make a love song in a bass, gurgling tone. It does most of its feeding during the monsoonal season from December to March, because the rivers and creeks flood then and the banks are so boggy that there is a rich harvest of trapped game. When a crocodile is trapped it makes furious efforts to escape. One, which had been snared, attacked the side of a boat, and two strong men with a crowbar could not lever its jaws open. It splintered the side of the boat and bent the crowbar with its teeth. After the first tremendous struggles a trapped crocodile generally sulks, takes notice of nothing, and declines to eat. Although it is such a heavy creature a crocodile can turn like a flash, and when full grown it can knock a bull yards with a blow of its tail. Its habit is to swing its head round and snap at any object which has been struck by its tail. The neck is flexible and very powerful. One cfocodile shot recently in the Gulf of Carpentaria measured five feet seven inches round the neck, seven feet six inches in girth, and five feet round the butt of the tail. The Freshwater Variety The other variety of Australian crocodile is found farther inland, in the fresht-water streams. Most of the coastal rivers, in which the estuary crocodiles live, are tidal, and there,fore they are salt or brackish. The inland crocodile is smaller than the estuary crocodile, growing to about 9 feet in length. Instead of the blunt, broad snout of the man-eater it has a long, narrow^nose with a fringe of sharp, fine teeth. It is somewhat lighter in colour than is its saltwater cousin, but in many ways there is a marlced resemblance. Probably because they are not cannibalistic some of the Water-holes teem with these little creatures. Their main food is fish and small game. They have been known to take dogs, but human beings go swiniming in their haunts, and no instance is known of a man having been attacked. Strangely these small crocodiles are not as shy as the large ones, and they are mueh more accessible to visitors. It is difficult to approach closely to an estuary crocodile becatise of its extraordinary eyesight.. The best plan is to equip oneself with a good telescope, . by which specimens may be

picked out from any logs that may be lying along* the bank, and then watched from a distance or stalked by a skilful hunter. A .303 or .32-40 rifle bullet will penetrate the hide in most places, but if the shot does not lodge in a fatal spot there is seldom chance of a second, because the wounded crocodile glides swiftly into the water' . and disappears. As the estuary crocodile takes hundrpds of head of cattle yearly, and is increasing in number, station managers are grateful to hunters who care to try their skill on the brutes. North Queensland in June, July and August offers weather ■ for camping that is nothing short of perfect, so that with inexpensive ' equipment a wonderful holiday may be spent. Game of all kinds is very plentiful, and truly. exciting deep-sea fishing is possible.