HERP NEWS 341/2009

WFTV (Orlando, Florida) 07 December 09 12-Foot Burmese Python Captured

Tampa, Fla.: A 12-foot long Burmese python was captured over the weekend in Port Tampa by authorities, who guided it into a city-issued garbage can.

Authorities said they were alerted to the situation when a man on a bicycle pulled up to a fire station on Sunday and said there was a big snake on a lawn down the street.

After the python was pushed inside the garbage can, it was rolled to the fire station and a wildlife expert was called.

Vernon Yates of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Seminole, says the snake's demeanor and condition indicate it is a pet that escaped or was released.

"It's on the thin side," he said. "But it's extremely friendly and a well-behaved snake."

http://www.wftv.com/news/21888480/detail.html

THE TELEGRAPH (London, UK) 07 December 09 Heron eats snake eating fish

Photo: Heron: Mr Crooks saw the Great Blue Heron dart into the water after what he thought was a fish. (National)

A heron got an unexpected double helping when it swooped on a snake as the reptile was enjoying its own fish meal.

The incident was captured by wildlife photographer David Crooks at the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in a wetlands area near the Potomac River in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Mr Crooks saw the Great Blue Heron dart into the water after what he thought was a fish. It then emerged with the snake, but it was only when he checked the pictures later that he realised the snake was eating a fish.

Mr Crooks said: "The Great Blue Heron frequents this area along with Great Egrets and other migrant birds. I know that Great Blue Herons will stand for long periods of time with little to no movement. And this particular day was no exception.

"Shooting pictures of birds is a solitary experience that requires incredible amount of patience. So, I settled in for the long wait and consequently was ready at the precise moment that this Great Blue Heron began its descent into the water.

"I prefer catching birds in action instead of just standing around so when this Great Blue Heron dove in for its usual meal of small fish, I was ready when it got more than it could chew.

"The hunt for the food happened very fast and I just kept shooting.

"I saw the snake swim away and did not realize how big it was until I saw the photos. When I saw my photo on the computer screen, I thought something was strange with the snakes mouth.

"It was not until then, that I realized that the snake was eating a fish when the Great Blue Heron was trying to eat the snake.

"I set out to find out more about the snake. It was later identified it as a Northern Water Snake. I am still not sure what kind of fish the snake was trying to eat."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6750469/Heron-eats-snake-eating-fish.html

ZEIT (Hamburg, Germany) 07 December 09 Deutscher mit 44 Eidechsen in der Unterhose festgenommen

Wellington (Dpa): Ein deutscher Tourist hat versucht, 44 Eidechsen in seiner Unterhose aus Neuseeland zu schmuggeln. Der 58- Jährige aus Bad Münstereifel bekannte sich vor Gericht in Christchurch schuldig. Er war am Sonntag am Flughafen der Stadt auf der Südinsel festgenommen worden. Die Beamten fanden 24 Geckos und 20 weitere kleine Echsen in einem Päckchen, das der Mann in seiner Unterhose versteckt hatte. Auf dem europäischen Schwarzmarkt sind die Geckos nach seinen Angaben mindestens 1000 Euro das Stück wert.

http://www.zeit.de/newsticker/2009/12/8/iptc-hfk-20091208-25-23225412xml

PEOPLE DAILY (Beijing, China) 07 December 09 Capturan tres serpientes en viviendas de la Ciudad de México

Agentes de la Policía de la Ciudad de México capturaron el día 6 tres serpientes en igual número de viviendas, en diferentes rumbos de la capital, informó el domingo la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública (SSP) en un comunicado.

Personal de la Brigada de Vigilancia Animal de la SSP atendió los casos luego de recibir denuncias de los vecinos sobre la presencia de las serpientes.

La primera captura ocurrió en calles de la colonia Cantil del Pedregal, de la Delegación Coyoacán, en el sur de la capital mexicana, donde la señora Rosa María Jaime Villaseñor, de 40 años de edad, reportó la presencia en su casa de una víbora "cincuate".

Un segundo reptil fue hallado en una vivienda de la calle Alamo, de la colonia Arenal, Delegación Azcapotzalco, en el noroeste de la Ciudad de México, luego del reporte recibido en la SSP por la señora Rosario Espinoza, de 53 años de edad.

El tercer hallazgo se presentó en un inmueble localizado sobre la avenida Eduardo Molina, Delegación Gustavo A. Madero, tras la denuncia de habitantes en el norte de la Ciudad de México.

El personal de la Brigada de Vigilancia Animal de la SSP rescató sin incidentes y con equipo especializado a las serpientes.

Los reptiles serán sometidos a observación durante algunos días y posteriormente serán trasladados al Centro de Investigación de Vida Silvestre de la Secretaría del Medio Ambiente en el municipio de Los Reyes La Paz, estado de México en el centro del país.

http://spanish.peopledaily.com.cn/31614/6833770.html

SUDWESTRUNDFUNK (Stuttgart, Germany) 06 December 09 Schlangenplage gefährdet auch Alligatoren - Der Kampf gegen die Pythons in den Everglades (Klaus Scherer, ARD-Studio Washington)

Joe Wasilewski fährt durch die Nacht. Leitplanken huschen vorbei, schwarzer Asphalt. Joe ist Biologe. Sein Hobby sind Reptilien. Sein derzeitiger Nebenjob: Schlangenjäger. ''Hier zwischen den Felsen halten sie sich gern auf und kommen nachts manchmal heraus'', sagt er während eines kurzen Stopps und richtet seine Taschenlampe auf marmorweißes, zerklüftetes Gestein. Doch dieses Mal wird er nicht fündig.

Wir sind in Florida, im riesigen Naturschutzgebiet der Everglades. ''Oft kreuzen die Pythons auch die Landstraßen, die hier durchführen'', sagt uns Joe und sollte recht behalten. Im Lichtkegel zuckte kurz ein dunkler Schlangenkörper. Dann muss alles ganz schnell gehen. Joe packt ihn am Schwanz und wirft ihn ins Gras neben der Fahrbahn, weicht verzweifelten Bissversuchen aus, beugt sich nieder, zögert kurz mit griffbereiter Hand, dann packt er fest die Stelle hinter dem Kopf. Aus seiner Faust ragt nun das weit aufgerissene Schlangenmaul. Das Tier ist chancenlos. Ein Biss ist zwar nicht giftig, dennoch kann er schmerzhaft sein. ''Da haben wir also ein Exemplar'', triumphiert Joe und atmet schnell, ''birmesischer Python, mitten in den Everglades!''

Am Morgen sind wir zur Rundfahrt durch die Wetlands verabredet, die dem Naturpark lange seine Artenvielfalt garantierten. Der Bootsmotor ist über Wasser auf dem Heck aufgebaut: ein Großpropeller hinter Gittern, der das Boot über das flache Wasser treibt. Unser Führer ist hier aufgewachsen. Shawn heißt er und kennt hier jede Wegstrecke, wenn nicht gar jeden Grashalm. ''Die Everglades sind einzigartig'', sagt er, als wir zwischen Schilf und Buschwerk hindurch in die offene, grüne Weite gleiten, ''als Landschaft zwischen Flussmarsch und Prärie, als Tier- und Pflanzenreservat. Ihr größter Feind war stets zuallererst der Mensch.''

Dass sich hier nun Pythons tummeln, sieht er vor allem als Problem für die Alligatoren, die bekanntesten Raubtiere der Sümpfe. Hin und wieder windet sich einer vor unserem Boot, aufgeschreckt im warmen Sonnenlicht und taucht dann in einem Wasserwirbel weg. ''Sie konkurrieren mit den Pythons nun um die gleiche Nahrung'', sagt Shawn. ''Wann immer neue Arten in ein sensibles Ökosystem eingeschleppt werden, schaden sie dem Gleichgewicht, es ist immer ein Problem.''

Fachleuten zufolge könnten die ersten Exoten-Schlangen aus einem gesunkenen Schiff entwichen sein. Da sie sich hier schneller vermehren, als den Rangern lieb ist, haben sie nun Jagdlizenzen ausgegeben. Die gefangenen Tiere werden später eingeschläfert. Bis zu 500 Eier pro Jahr legt ein Pythonweibchen, bisher offenbar recht unbehelligt von natürlichen Feinden. ''Wir sind nicht sicher, wie viele Tiere es jetzt schon sind,'' erklärt uns Parkmanager Dan Kimball. ''Wir haben einmal in einem begrenzten Areal 55 Pythons gefunden. Hochgerechnet auf das ganze Schutzgebiet, wären das rund 150.000 Tiere. Aber das ist nur eine Schätzung.'' Kritiker halten das für übertrieben. Zudem würden andere Raubtiere bald auch junge Pythons als Nahrung entdecken. Doch auch Bewohner des Umlands sind verunsichert, seit Fotos die Runde machen vom bizarren Versuch eines Pythons, einen Alligator zu verschlucken, was für beide Tiere tödlich endete: Der Python hatte sich schon weit über den Leib des Opfers gestülpt, als offenbar dessen Krallen die Schlangenhaut aufrissen.

Auch die Nachricht, dass eine privat gehaltene Riesenschlange zuletzt ein Kleinkind im Schlaf erwürgte, versetzte ganz Florida in Sorge. Selbst Feuerwehren sind seitdem als Pythonjäger eingebunden. ''Wir arbeiten auch an einem Fallensystem, aber mit wenig Erfolg'', räumt Kimball halb sarkastisch ein, ''nur anderthalb Pythons haben wir damit gefangen. Einer war ganz, ein zweiter war nur halb drin.''

Tatsächlich beeinflussen in Amerikas Naturparks viele Zuwanderer das Gleichgewicht - von Muscheln, die an großen Schiffen kleben, bis zu importierten Exoten, die von ihren Haltern später einfach in der Wildnis ausgesetzt wurden. ''Und zugleich'', sagt Parkführer Shawn, als er den Bootssteg einer Rangerhütte ansteuert, ''bleiben alle Arten weiter von Schadstoffen bedroht, die aus Wohngebieten, Industrie und Landwirtschaft selbst hier noch in die Nahrungskette dringen.''

In alten Büchern über die Everglades sei noch von so vielen Vogelarten die Rede, dass sie den Himmel verdunkelt hätten, wären sie alle zugleich geflogen. ''Als ich ein Junge war, hat man hier locker tausend Vögel am Tag gesehen, heute ist die Hälfte davon schon verschwunden.'' Dafür blüht, auch in Florida, der Handel mit Tierarten, die hier nie heimisch waren: Reptilien-Verkaufsmessen ziehen Tausende von Kunden an, wie im Supermarkt tüten sie bunte, in Plastikdosen verpackte Schlangenbabies ein - auch Pythons. Ein Wirtschaftszweig, der Milliarden umsetzt, klagen Parkschützer. Denn an der Lobby der Reptilienfans und -händler scheitern Gesetze, die längst nötig wären. ''Es müsste sichergestellt werden'', räumen hier sogar manche Kunden selbst ein, ''dass niemand solche Tiere hält, der dazu gar nicht in der Lage ist.''

Und alle müssten wissen, dass auch kleine Schlangen irgendwann groß werden können - und dann womöglich nicht mehr in die Wohnung passen. Denn längst haben die Ranger eher Privatleute in Verdacht, die Pythonplage ausgelöst zu haben, also ihnen die Tiere zuhause irgendwann lästig wurden. Schlangenjäger Joe Wasilewski kennt selber welche. ''Die kaufen sich so ein Pythonbaby, dann wächst das Tier, sie ziehen um oder lassen sich scheiden, die Kinder studieren, es gibt ja viele Gründe'', erzählt im Wagen auf nächtlicher Landstraße, ''und dann halten sie es für klug, die Schlange in den Everglades freizulassen.'' Und Leute wie er hätten dann den Ärger damit, ohne dass die Tiere etwas dafür könnten. Wieder springt er aus dem Auto, weil er etwas am Fahrbahnrand entdeckt hat. Eine Minute später zappelt der gefangene Vier-Meter-Python im Stoffbeutel. Anruf bei der zuständigen Feuerwehr. Registrierformular ausfüllen. Wieder eine Riesenschlange weniger. Eine von womöglich mehr als hunderttausend...

Den Beitrag können Sie im Weltspiegel heute ab 19:20 Uhr im Ersten sehen.

http://www.swr.de/nachrichten/-/id=396/nid=396/did=5706700/gguoc9/index.html

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT / EL ARAB INTERNATIONAL (London, UK) 06 December 09 عرف بغرامياته ويزن 250 كيلوغراما وخصصت له رافعة لتنقلاته - باريس: «الشرق الأوسط»

عن عمر ناهز 146 عاما، لفظ كيكي أنفاسه الأخيرة في باريس، أول من أمس، تاركا صدمة وحزنا في نفوس عشاقه كبارا وصغارا. وكيكي هو سلحفاة ذكر ضخم الحجم يعود أصله إلى جزر سيشل، ظل حتى وفاته أكثر نزلاء «حديقة النباتات» في العاصمة الفرنسية شعبية. وكان متحف التاريخ الطبيعي قد تلقى كيكي، على سبيل الهدية، عام 1923، من مواطن من جزر موريس يدعى مسو كارييه، اشتهر بدعوته المبكرة للحفاظ على البيئة وكائناتها الطبيعية من الانقراض.

وعلى مدى عقود طويلة، ظل كيكي محط شغف زوار الحديقة، واشتهر بمطارحاته الغرامية المكشوفة مع رفيقاته السلاحف، وبما يصدر عنه من أصوات في أوقات ممارسة الحب، الأمر الذي جمع حوله حلقة من المعجبين والمعجبات الذين كانوا يترددون عليه بانتظام. وكان واضحا أن كيكي الآتي من المحيط الهندي، لا يعاني من حنين إلى موطنه الأصلي، بل تعود الأجواء المرفهة لباريس، وخصوصا أنه يقيم في مبنى تاريخي خاص بالزواحف يعود إلى عام 1870، يجري تكييف هوائه في الشتاء. ومع حلول الربيع اعتاد كيكي أن يترك خارج المبنى ليزحف على العشب الأخضر للبهو المشيد عام 1802 على هيئة وسام الشرف الفرنسي.

وكان كيكي يحب الجزر بشكل خاص، وكذلك الموز والخضراوات التي يقدمها له المشرف على غذائه. وقد وصل وزنه إلى 250 كيلوغراما، بحيث خصصت عربة رافعة لتنقلاته في سنواته الأخيرة. وهو واحد من 375 سلحفاة موزعة على حدائق الحيوان في العالم، خارج محيطها الطبيعي في جزر سيشل.

http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=31&article=547272&issueno=11331

THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 04 December 09 Crocodile bites reptile handler

(AAP) A woman has been bitten by a crocodile in the provincial town of Geelong, south of Melbourne.

The 46-year-old qualified reptile handler had been hired to attended a function at Eastern Gardens with Snappy, a two-metre saltwater crocodile, when it attacked her on Friday evening, Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said.

"The crocodile was called Snappy and apparently its jaw muscle was taped," he told AAP.

"The tape has come undone and it has latched on to her arm.

"She suffered lacerations to that arm and is being treated."

The woman was taken to Geelong Hospital, where a spokeswoman said she was in a stable condition.

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/crocodile-bites-reptile-handler-20091204-kav2.html

STUFF (Wellington, New Zealand) 04 December 09 Snake smugglers nabbed in Cambodia

(AP) Cambodian police confiscated two tons of live snakes and tortoises and arrested two men trying to smuggle the slithering cargo up a river from Cambodia to Vietnam, authorities said.

Acting on a tip, police intercepted the boat Wednesday on the Bassac River in southeastern Cambodia just before it crossed into Vietnam.

They found 1655 kilograms of snakes, mostly pythons, and 263 tortoises that weighed a combined 317 kilograms, said Colonel Chan Savouen, deputy police chief of Kandal province.

"Snakes and tortoises are rare reptiles in our country and are strongly prohibited from being hunted and trafficked," he said.

Police arrested two Cambodians, aged 17 and 20, who said they were hired to transport the cargo but did not know the identities of their employers. They said some of the reptiles had been illegally hunted in Cambodia and others were trafficked from neighbouring Thailand, Chan Savouen said.

The snakes and tortoises were released into the wild, he said.

Vietnam is often used as a transit point for trafficking illegal wildlife from Southeast Asia to China to feed its market for exotic pets and foods.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/3125817/Snake-smugglers-nabbed-in-Cambodia

ZMAN / SMILE (Moscow, Russia) 04 December 09 На 146 году скончалась старейшая черепаха Франции

В Париже на 146 году жизни скончалась знаменитая старейшая черепаха Франции по кличке Кики. Гигантская черепаха прибыла с Сейшельских островов в Париж в 1923 году молоденькой 60-летней девочкой, вернее мальчиком - Кики принадлежал к сильной половине черепашьего рода. Сейшелец испустил дух в Парижском ботаническом саду Jardin des Plantes.

Парижская публика обожала этого "старейшего француза" за веселый нрав. Он был известен как неутомимый любовник. На зависть посетителям мужского пола, несмотря на преклонный возраст и вес - четверть тонны - Кики до последнего дня оглашал ботанический сад стонами эротических игр с молоденькими подружками.

Дирекция парижского Музея естественной истории рассказывает, что Кики обычно зимовал в отделе рептилий, где его кормили морковью и бананами.

Черепахи с Сейшельских островов внесены в Красную книгу - с 1840 года им угрожает исчезновение. Сегодня их популяция достигает 150 тысяч, 375 из них находятся в зоопарках, из которых 20 во Франции.

http://www.zman.com/news/Article.aspx?articleID=61828

BN/DE STEM (Roosendaal, Netherlands) 03 December 09 Slang tussen Belgische kinderkoppen (Jeannine Hermans)

Etten-Leur: Tussen een partij kinderkoppen is gisteren een anderhalve meter lange slang gevonden. "Twee van mijn mensen, Jurgen van den Broek en Jack Koevoets waren in de Donkerstraat bezig met straatwerkzaamheden.

Ze dachten eerst dat het iets van een snelbinder was, maar toen merkten ze tot hun schrik dat het een slang was", aldus hovenier Peter Jansen. Hoe het inmiddels aan zijn verwondingen overleden dier tussen de keien terecht is gekomen, weet hij niet. Vandaag bekijkt Jansen wat hij met de slang moet. "En Jurgen en Jack hebben me al om gevarengeld gevraagd!"

http://www.bndestem.nl/regio/ettenleur/5898081/Slang-tussen-Belgische-kinderkoppen.ece

HET NIEUWSBLAD (Antwerp, Belgium) 03 December 09 Waterschildpadden en brulkikkers rukken op

Antwerpen: Waterschildpadden en brulkikkers hebben zich comfortabel genesteld in onze natuurgebieden. De grachten aan de forten rond Antwerpen zijn de thuis geworden van roodwangschildpadden. 'Aan het fort van Edegem zitten gemakkelijk zeventig tot tachtig roodwangschildpadden', zegt Eddy. 'Die zijn er vooral gedumpt door mensen die kleine waterschildpadjes in huis halen en de beestjes na een tijd beu zijn. Onlangs nog hebben we een vraag gekregen om roodwangschildpadden te vangen in het kleine natuurgebiedje Wolvenberg in Berchem.'

'Gelukkig zijn de beesten nog niet in staat om hier te kweken', zegt Jos. 'Dan zou het helemaal een probleem worden. Roodwangschildpadden zijn overigens verboden. In principe kun je ze dus niet meer vinden in de winkel. Maar wat doen sommige handelaars? Ze voeren nu de geelwangschildpad in, alleen het streepje aan de koop verschilt, voor de rest is het probleem hetzelfde.'

Een exoot die zich wel kan voortplanten in ons klimaat is de brulkikker. 'Zo groot als een klein brood en een vreselijke lawaaimaker', zegt Jos. 'In het Zammels Broek, bij Geel, is het een echte plaag. De kikkers zijn een grote bedreiging voor onze inlandse dieren. Ze eten kleinere kikkers en salamanders gewoon op. Zelf hebben ze geen vijanden.'

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=AC2J6K8Q

UNION-TRIBUNE (San Diego, California) 02 December 09 Giant snake identified now as boa constrictor (Bruce Lieberman)

Carlsbad: About that snake that two hikers found along Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad on Sunday: It’s a boa constrictor, not a Burmese python, as animal control officials had originally reported.

The snake, measuring about 5 feet long, is specifically a Colombian red-tailed boa constrictor, said Dan DeSousa, a lieutenant with the county animal services department. Experts with the department re-examined the snake yesterday and concluded that it’s a boa, DeSousa said.

The difference may not matter much to hikers along the north end of Batiquitos Lagoon, who clearly don’t expect to see giant snakes along the quiet trail below a suburban neighborhood and the Four Seasons Resort Aviara.

Officials with the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation said they suspect a pet owner no longer wanted the snake and set it free. That’s a huge mistake, they said — for native birds and other animals that live at the lagoon, for human visitors and for the snake.

The boa constrictor is a heavy-bodied species found in Central America, South America and on some islands of the Caribbean. They can grow to about 13 feet long, and weigh up to about 60 pounds. Red-tailed boas tend to be “well-mannered” and “are relatively easy to care for as adults compared to the larger Burmese pythons,” said Jenny Greene, an assistant manager at LLL Reptile and Supply Co. in Escondido.

Animal control officers are working to find the boa a new home.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/02/giant-snake-identified-now-boa-constrictor/

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION 02 December 09 Walking tall on toads

Have you ever trod on a heavy-built, warty cane toad after a big thunderstorm?

As the wet season approaches in North West Queensland, plenty of the pesky amphibians are out.

But now there's a use for them, a fashion accessory.

Shoe designer Karine Emanouel has put skinned Sunshine State toads to good use in her line of 10-centimetre high heels.

"It's actually like a cane toad's been squashed. When you look at this skin, you can see its legs and where the head was," she says.

"I've had quite a bit of interest in it.

"It's been a quirky kind of thing, so a lot of people have just wanted to see what it's all about."

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200912/s2759419.htm

MIAMI HERALD (Florida) 02 December 09 Wanted: More experts to capture pythons (Curtis Morgan)

The python patrol will be back next year.

After a four-month test run that ended in October, state wildlife managers announced Wednesday that they would extend the program to a year-round effort starting in January.

``We want to continue allowing experts out there to ensure this exotic species does not spread any farther north in Florida,'' said Scott Hardin, exotic species section leader for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The snakes, which eat native wildlife, have spread rapidly across the Everglades and surrounding wildlands.

Under the program, 10 experts hunted on state-managed lands in South Florida, capturing 39 snakes during warm months when the exotic constrictors tend to be most difficult to locate. The FWC, which issued permits necessary to capture the snakes, has extended those initial 10 to the end of the year.

The agency is also now seeking application for permits that will go into effect on Jan. 1. Applications can be found at www.MyFWC.com. Click on ``Burmese pythons.''

In a release, the agency said it would accept only qualified applicants with experience capturing snakes in the wild, handling large constrictors and euthanizing reptiles. The FWC requires potential permit holders to be Florida residents and to have a ``reptile of concern'' permit, digital camera and a GPS unit.

Permit holders are required to photograph and mark GPS locations, photograph and describe stomach contents of euthanized snakes, file reports within 36 hours of capture, and either euthanize pythons in the field or transport live snakes to vets or people with licenses to own the snakes.

Permit holders also will be required to visit several state wildlife management areas in South Florida at least twice each year.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/breaking-news/story/1362518.html

DAILY MAIL (London, UK) 01 December 09 Snake in a bind after eating its own tail (Claire Bates)

Photo: This snake's owner rushed the hungry reptile to the vet after it lunge at its own tail

A pet snake got itself in a bit of a bind after it mistook its own tail for a tasty dinner.

Reggie the King snake soon realised his mistake after chomping down on his back end but then couldn't release himself after his teeth had taken hold.

Luckily the hungry reptile's owner arrived on the scene before the snake began to digest its own body, and rushed him to the vet.

'Its backward facing teeth were acting like a ratchet,' vet Bob Reynolds from Faygate, West Sussex told the Mail Online.

'The snake had also dislocated its jaw in its attempt to get its mouth around the tail and this isn't easy to reverse.'

Mr Reynolds was able to gently untangle Reggie by prising its jaws open a little wider and sliding the teeth off the flesh using a probe. The whole operation took only half an hour.

'I have never seen a case like it, although I have head about it happening,' the reptiles expert said.

'There is a temptation for a snake-eater like this one to lunge at its own tail, especially if kept in a small enclosure. They can't spread themselves out and think their tails are another snake.'

Luckily the tip of the 18-year-old snake's tail hadn't entered its stomach so it hadn't come to any harm. All Reggie was left nursing was perhaps wounded pride.

King snakes range from southern Canada down to South America. They can grow up to seven feet and live up to 20 years in the wild, but can live much longer as pets.

The constrictors hunt a variety of prey from rodents to birds and other snakes... and at times even themselves.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232276/Snake-bind-eating-tail.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0a4D9WlDq

THE SCOTSMAN (Edinburgh, UK) 01 December 09 Vet school to offer reptile treatment training

A vet school in Edinburgh is to become the first in the UK to offer training in treating reptiles.

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, part of Edinburgh University, has earned the accreditation needed to conduct the training.

It will be recognised by the European College of Zoological Medicine.

Kevin Eatwell, who has been awarded the diplomat status, said: "I am delighted to have achieved such status by the European College of Zoological Medicine.

"It is very exciting to be involved in the education of specialist veterinary surgeons throughout Europe."

"This will also open the door for residents at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies to obtain European qualifications relating to the specialist treatment of reptiles."

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Vet-school-to-offer-reptile.5871558.jp

BBC (London, UK) 30 November 09 New toad road crossing suggested - Plans would see volunteers carry toads across the road

A campaign looking out for Jersey toads has suggested lollypop ladies could be used to help them cross the road.

In recent years fewer toads have been found in their natural habitat in Island ponds and streams.

But its believed there is still a healthy population in private gardens across the Island.

The Toadwatch campaign is asking Islanders to report toad sightings and may set up a scheme to protect toads when they move to breeding grounds.

Wendy Van Neste is the Toadwatch co-ordinator for Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and explained it would involve volunteers taking toads across the road.

"I think it will be a little bit experimental this year. We do have an idea where the danger hotspots for toad crossings are so we'll be looking to man those.

"We'll hear reports of toads on the move and if its a wet night it's likely to be a toad crossing night at that time of year.

"We will ask volunteers to go out, if they are there, with the reflective jackets and buckets to collect up the toads from one side of the road and move it to the other," said Wendy.

The animals travel to the same ponds to breed every spring and will often then travel to other areas for the rest of the year.

"Perhaps towards the end of January if it is mild and a bit chilly you'll see them out again and they go back to their ponds to find a mate.

"They'll cross roads and that is one of the real dangers for them as they're crossing roads. January, February time is when we find a lot of road kills," said Wendy.

As well as the road crossing scheme, Wendy suggested a few ways islanders can help the cause of toad preservation with their own gardens.

"There are a few simple things we can all do in our gardens. The best thing for a toad is if you have a pond in your garden.

"They don't have to be big, we have someone that has a kitchen sink burried in the garden, we have people with enormous great ponds and toads love them all.

"That is one of our initiatives for next year, to encourage people to put ponds in in a simple way," said Wendy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/jersey/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8386000/8386675.stm

JAKARTA POST (Indonesia) 30 November 09 Bali's governor proposes a 1,000 turtle quota despite protests (Ni Komang Erviani)

Despite protests from animal lovers, Governor Made Mangku Pastika admits the Bali administration has proposed to the Ministry of Forestry regarding a plan to utilize a quota of 1,000 turtles per year for various religious and ceremonial purposes.

"We proposed the quota for ceremonial uses. We never proposed the *slaughter' of turtles to cook lawar *a traditional Balinese dish of mixed meats - either pork, turtle, chicken and fish with vegetables and spices*," the governor pointed out.

The proposal is based on the number of customary villages in Bali, which is around 1,000. Each village holds a grand ceremony at least once a year.

"We have made an accurate calculation of each village's turtle needs," he said.

Pastika went further, saying a proposal was made to prevent people from committing illegal turtle poaching. Balinese Hindu people strongly believe turtles to be sacred animals and some large-scale ceremonies require the use of turtles.

However, in addition to ritual purposes turtle meat in the past was widely consumed, pushing Bali's turtle population to the brink of extinction.

Turtles are protected under the 1990 Conservation of Biodiversity and its Ecosystem Law.

Illegal turtle traders can face up to five years in jail and a Rp 100 million (US$10,000) fine.

Previously, an expert from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia strongly opposed the governor's plan to ask for a turtle quota.

Program coordinator of WWF Indonesia Creusa Hitipeuw stressed the proposal would open the turtle trade for the sake of ceremonies.

"This will affect Bali's tourist industry," he said.

Bali was for a long time seen as a notorious haven for the illegal trade of turtles.

Thousands of turtles were shipped and slaughtered for human consumptions.

"We can reach an agreement on the use of turtles in various religious activities," Hitipeuw said.

According to data from the Turtle Conservation and Education Center, Bali only needs 80 turtles a year for religious purposes, far less than the 1,000 turtles proposed by Pastika.

Data from Pro Fauna, an environmental NGO, revealed shocking statistics. Prior to 1999, the turtle trade in Bali reached 27,000 to 30,000 per year. After 1999, the number of turtles traded in Bali declined to 2,000 per year.

This year, Bali has traded 500 turtles from Lombok, Sulawesi, Maluku and Sumatra, WWF recorded.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/11/30/bali039s-governor-proposes-a-1000-turtle-quota-despite-protests.html

ECONOMIC TIMES (New Delhi, India) 30 November 09 White crocodile to be mascot at the National Youth Festival (Nageshwar Patnaik)

Thirty-four-year-old Gori, India’s only captive white crocodile living in Orissa’s Bhitarkanika National Park will be the mascot for the National Youth Festival scheduled to be held here from January 8 to 12, 2010.

The national steering committee for the festival held at New Delhi on Monday gave its nod to a proposal in this regards, a press release issued by the chief minister’s office here said.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik who co-chaired the meeting with union sports minister M.S.Gill expressed his happiness over Gori being chosen as the mascot saying that it was an honour to the state.

The logo and mascot of the festival will be unveiled in Bhubaneswar during second week of December, 2009.

About four thousand youths from all the states and union territories will fight for honours in about 17 categories of cultural items in both classical, semi-classical and folk arts during the mega festival.

The theme of the festival proposed by Orissa – ‘Celebrating Diversity’ - was well received by the steering committee.

The festival logo depicts six youths portraying the “unity in diversity” and “plurality” nature of India, the statement said.

Acclaimed as country’s lone captive white crocodile, Gori has been in the limelight over the years for her typical behavioral instinct. Living in isolation since its birth in the sanctuary since 1975, the female crocodile was in news last year for laying 30 eggs. However, the eggs lacked fertility contents and potency for procreation.

The reptile had shunned mating habits despite several attempts made by forest personnel. Things reached tragic proportion in the past as Gori had violently attacked her male partner that had been released into the pen for mating purpose. Gori lost its left eye in the clash with the male partner.

The enigmatic Gori had put the wildlife personnel in tight spot in past years for its poor health. There was a proposal that was deferred earlier last year to release the species in the wild so that it may regain its health in natural environment.

The 34-year-old crocodile, which has whitish patches all over the body, had been hatched and bred by the forest department as a part of crocodile conservation programme.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/White-crocodile-to-be-mascot-at-the-National-Youth-Festival/articleshow/5285396.cms

LUSAKA TIMES (Zambia) 30 November 09 12 year old killed by crocodile

(ZANIS) A 12 year old girl has been killed by a crocodile on Lake Kariba in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province.

Nangombe ward councilor Robson Sialukowa confirmed in an interview with ZANIS that Anita Simalugwe of Kaduku Village in Chief Sinazongwe area was killed while she was swimming in Lake Kariba.

Mr. Sialukowa said the girl who was in grade one at Nangombe Middle Basic School was found dead when the parents ran to the Lake to rescue her. He said there were a lot of crocodiles in Lake Kariba and urged the Zambia Wild Life Authority to crop the reptiles that have continued killing people in Sinazongwe.

In September a 21 year old woman of Izenga Village near Chief Sinazongwe’s palace was also killed by a crocodile while she was washing vegetables at the shores of Lake Kariba.

The ward councillor has also warned parents to avoid letting their children swim in Lake Kariba.

http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=21369

NEW INDIAN EXPRESS (Chennai, India) 30 November 09 Crocodiles in Amaravathi terrorise villagers (S Kaththasami)

Tirupur: Normal life in nearly 20 villages along the Amaravathi river near Dharapuram has been under threat for the past three years from the crocodiles in the river.

Many farmers and villagers encountered the crocodiles that escaped from Amaravathi dam during floods and took shelter in the checkdams along the course of the river. The villagers find it extremely difficult to bathe, fish and visit the temple on the river bank due to the presence of the crocodiles.

Ponnusamy, a farmer from Murungavalasu, who saw the crocodiles often at Athivalasu, said, “These crocodiles were very small when washed away from the dam during floods a few years ago, but now they are very big and have multiplied in number, posing a threat to human lives. They can be seen early in the morning and evening enjoying the sunshine.”

According to him, though they did not attack anyone till now, the fear of the creatures forced the villagers to avoid going near the river. “We row the coracles on the river and offer poojas at the temple with fear-stricken minds.” he observed.

It may be noted that two years ago a baby crocodile managed to enter a nearby farm and it accidentally fell into a well. It died during the rescue operation, after which the officials stepped up efforts to capture the crocodiles in the river. When the forest officials failed to trap them, they put up signboards warning people regarding the movements of the crocodiles.

Eswaramoorthy, Tirupur secretary of Uzhavar Uzhaipalar Katchi, said, “As long as water is full in the checkdams, they hide inside the wateQDQDr. When the water level goes down, they start to visit nearby farms and some times stray into the villages too.”

“Most of the farm workers in the village, who used to cross the river at Seethakadu, avoid the path due to the panic over the lurking danger. Instead, they go around nearly 10 km to cross the river to reach the nearby village,” he added.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Crocodiles+in+Amaravathi+terrorise+villagers&artid=vCwMJRdASLY=

FRATERNITÉ MATIN (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) 30 November 09 Insolite: Chiens Et Serpents Dans Les Assiettes A Yop Et Abobo (Rosemonde Kouadio)

La viande de serpent et de chien est de plus en plus consommée dans certains maquis abidjanais (lieu de restauration où l’on propose des recettes locales). Avec une dominance pour le serpent. Tel est le constat fait sur le terrain. Pour comprendre les motivations de ces consommateurs, connaitre les particularités de la saveur des reptiles et des canidés, nous avons suivi leurs traces.

Il est environ 10 heures ce samedi 7 novembre à Yopougon. Précisément au quartier Maroc (Lièvre rouge extension). Devant un maquis situé à l’extrémité d’une rue non bitumée, on peut lire sur une enseigne lumineuse «Le Zoo chez Félix». A l’intérieur, le décor est tout de nature fait. Quelques manguiers et autres bananiers, qui composent la végétation de ce "Zoo"…gastronomique étalent leur ombrage tant apprécié des clients. Surtout les jours d’immense chaleur. Ce qui n’est pas le cas ce samedi. De la cuisine, «Docteur» -à l’état civil Kouman- peut donc…opérer.

Kouman qui tient son sobriquet de son habilité à nettoyer, vider et dépecer tous les animaux qui entrent au… Zoo, le bien nommé maquis, s’active à racler des écailles d’un long corps massif; dont la couleur sombre mate laisse voir qu’il ne s’agit pas d’un poisson ; mais bel est bien d’un serpent. Une jeune vipère, si l’on s’en tient à la taille et à la grosseur du reptile livré tôt ce matin». Si l’on en croit Boni N’Guessan Albéric, gérant du maquis, c’est chaque matin que les fournisseurs leur livre les animaux (déjà tués) en provenance des régions d’Agboville, d’Adzopé, de Tabou, d’Anyama. Selon toujours Albéric, «le prix d’acquisition du serpent varie en fonction du poids. Un python moyen peut coûter entre 30 et 40 000 f CFA. On peut trouver des reptiles de 2 à 7 mètres de longueur.

Déjà à cette heure la journée, les premiers clients sont attablés. L’un d’eux déguste un plat de hérisson commandé 15 minutes plus tôt, tandis que l’autre, impatient attend. Mais, pas pour longtemps, puisque que quelques minutes après, il sera servi. Un kédjénou de vipère, c’est-à-dire, de la chaire de vipère cuite à l’étouffée, accompagné d’un plat de riz fumant.

Pour le prix moyen de 3 000 Frs CFA le plat, de nombreux clients du "Zoo" peuvent s’offrir trois morceaux de vipère ou de python. Pour un plat dans un maquis, il faut avouer que ce n’est pas donné. Mais, la viande de serpent étant très appréciée, les clients n’hésitent pas mettre la main à la poche. Rien que pour se faire plaisir.

Au "Zoo", en dehors de la recette kédjénou, le serpent est proposé en braisé. Deux recettes dont le temps de cuisson est en général de 45 minutes. Certainement pour que la chaire soit cuite à point. Pour les curieux qui se demandent ce que devient le venin, Albéric se veut rassurant. «Le venin se trouve dans une cavité rigide de couleur blanchâtre logée dans la tête du serpent. Et, les fournisseurs prennent soin de l’extraire avant livraison».

A en croire le gérant du "Zoo", les consommateurs se recrutent dans toutes les classes sociales. «Au nombre de nos clients, qui viennent ici pour consommer de la chair de serpent, on compte de nombreuses personnalités. Nos frères de la diaspora de passage à Abidjan sont également friands de vipère ou de python. Ils en achètent, parfois à l’état frais, pour la faire fumer, sécher pour repartir chez eux en Europe avec», dit-il fièrement.

Pour ce qui est de la viande de chien, peu importe son apparence, son origine. Même si les consommateurs affirment préférer les chiens errants à ceux qui partagent la vie de certaines familles en ville ou au village.

Les maquis où on trouve de la chair de chien sont généralement situés dans la commune d’Abobo. Vu la rareté, les difficultés d’approvisionnement, le plat est proposé au client sur commande.

Deux méthodes sont utilisées pour tuer le chien. La première consiste à l’assommer à l’aide d’un pilon. Et, l’autre à l’étouffer dans un sac. Les adeptes de cette chair affirment que le chien tué de cette manière est plus succulent. En la matière les plus indexés sont les Lobi (Sud-Ouest), les Dagari (région de Bouna) et les Burkinabés.

D’où vient donc cette inclination pour la viande de chien et de serpent, deux espèces, l’un considérées comme le compagnon de l’homme et l’autre comment une grande terreur ?

Boni N’Guessan Albéric, le gérant du "Zoo" croit savoir qu’au départ, il y a de la curiosité. Puis, une fois la curiosité satisfaite, la qualité de la chair du serpent ou du chien fait le reste. «Le serpent est une chair blanche», fait observer un consommateur assidu. La qualité gustative de la chair blanche est donc à la base du succès de la chair de reptile. Cette chair est dite très succulente. La vipère s’apparente au poisson mais est plus agréable. Quand le python a un goût plus intéressant que le poulet. C’est ce qui ressort des témoignages de personnes interrogées. « Je mange le serpent comme les asiatiques pour avoir une vie plus longue», témoigne Cissé Paul, informaticien. Mme Koné Henriette, cadre dans une entreprise de la place, raconte, elle, qu’elle n’aurait jamais imaginé manger du serpent. « Mais un jour, mon mari, très friand de la viande de serpent, m’en a fait manger chez Félix». Elle affirme que depuis ce jour, elle est devenue friande cette chair, au point d’en manger au moins une fois par semaine.

Pour ce qui est du chien, les consommateurs évoquent les vertus aphrodisiaques et autres considérations mystiques (longévité) liées à cet animal. Ouattara Yédié Brice, grand consommateur de viande de chien devant l’Eternel, avoue sa préférence pour cette chair pour ses prétendues propriétés mystiques. «Je mange de la viande de chien, parce que quand tu en consommes, tu es à l’abri de toute attaque satanique : empoisonnement, mauvais sort, etc. », assure-t-il. Même son de cloche chez Cyrille Ouédraogo, qui fait savoir que la viande de chien est plus tendre et agréable que celle de tout autre gibier à quatre pattes.

Comme gibier, le serpent s’obtient généralement de deux façons. La première, c’est à travers les pièges que posent les chasseurs. La seconde voie relève du ramassage. C’est en défrichant des parcelles de terre, que des travailleurs de la terre tombent, incidemment sur des reptiles qu’ils tuent; avant de les livrer aux maquis, à défaut de les consommer eux-mêmes.

Le "Zoo" de Félix n’a, à proprement parlé, pas de fournisseurs attitrés. Ce maquis doit son approvisionnement à sa notoriété, qui fait que les "ramasseurs" de serpent se dirigent spontanément vers ce lieu de restauration après leurs trouvailles.

Boni N’Guessan Albérick souligne que, dans le souci de se démarquer des autres concurrents, qui se sont mis eux, aussi à proposer de la chair de reptile-- que le propriétaire des lieux, M. Boussin Yao Félix, a ajouté à son menu d’autres variétés rares comme des plats de crocodile, de varan,… Il aura certainement eu le nez creux, puisqu’il continue de fair recette.

http://fratmat.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1737:insolite-chiens-et-serpents-dans-les-assiettes-a-yop-et-abobo&catid=40:reportage&Itemid=75

DRESDEN FERNSEHEN (Germany) 30 November 09 Jetzt vor dem Winter auf Frösche und Kröten achten – Gullis und Lichtschächte werden zu tödlichen Amphibienfallen

Nicht abgedeckte Gullis entlang der Straßen und Lichtschächte am Haus gefährden in diesen Tagen wieder Kröten, Frösche, Salamander und andere Lurche.

Die für November viel zu milden Temperaturen sind dafür verantwortlich, dass die meisten Amphibien sich noch nicht für den Winter zurückgezogen haben oder aus ihrer Winterstarre wiederaufwachen und aktiv werden. Auf der Suche nach Nahrung fallen die Tiere dann häufig in nicht abgedeckte Gullis oder Lichtschächte, wo sie verhungern, vertrocknen und später erfrieren.

„Garten- und Häuslesbesitzer sind jetzt besonders gefordert", so Claus-Peter Hutter, Vorsitzender des bundesweiten Arbeitskreises der Umweltakademien und Leiter der Umweltakademie Baden-Württemberg. Lichtschächte am Haus und Gullis entlang der Straßen und Wege seien jetzt für Molche, Kröten und Frösche wieder tödliche Amphibien-Fallen, weil die Tiere auf der Suche nach Winter-quartieren vor allem feuchte und dunkle Ecken suchten. Lichtschächte werden dabei häufig zu Todesfallen vor allem für noch relativ kleine Jungtiere.

Beim Überqueren von Straßen stellen die Bordsteine oft unüberwindbare Hindernisse dar, die Tiere wandern deshalb entlang der Bordsteine und fallen dabei häufig in Gullis. Hutter rät deshalb allen Garten- und Hausbesitzern, Gullis und Lichtschächte mit feinmaschi-gen Netzen abzudecken, damit die Tiere nicht hineinfallen können.

Zuvor sollte kont-rolliert werden, ob sich nicht schon Amphibien in Gullis und Schächten befinden, so die Empfehlung der Umweltakademien. Amphibien wie Frösche, Molche oder Kröten sind dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie im Verlauf ihres Lebens sowohl an Land als auch im Wasser leben. Zumindest zur Fortpflanzung müssen die meisten Amphibien das Wasser aufsuchen. Bei diesen Wanderungen im Frühjahr fallen viele Tiere dem Straßenverkehr zum Opfer. Auch die Lebensraumzerstörung ist Ursache dafür, dass fast ein Drittel aller Amphibienar-ten laut Roter Liste als bedroht gelten.

http://www.dresden-fernsehen.de/default.aspx?ID=6090&showNews=576479

КОНКУРЕНТ / CONCURRENT (Kiev?, Russia) 30 November 09 Четыре змеи, игуана и танцовщица (Евгения Стукова)

Анна Шилина, совладелица праздничного агентства «Ассоциация артистов» и школы восточного танца «Хайат», не из тех, кто заводит в качестве домашних питомцев собачек или кошечек. Специфика ее работы такова, что дома должна быть атмосфера спокойствия. А для этого, как ни странно, подходят рептилии. Сегодня у нее уже четыре змеи и одна игуана Данечка.

«Думаю, на этом экзотическом составе все и закончится. Любое существо, пусть и самое неприхотливое, все же требует ухода и внимания. Времени на больший семейный состав мне не хватит физически.

Сетчатый питон после анаконды считается самой большой и опасной змеей. Но я убедилась в том, что даже дикие животные, выращенные в любви и заботе, способны превратиться в домашних. Наш питомец вырос добрым и ручным, любящим внимание окружающих. Первый опыт совместного выступления с ним на публике проходил в ночном клубе. В тот раз я боялась больше, чем змея.

Мои змеи хорошо понимают, что никто не причинит им боль. Сегодня одна из них приболела. Приходится чистить ей нос, делать уколы. Любое другое животное давно попыталось бы защититься и при случае укусить хозяина. Это вполне нормальная защитная реакция, а наша, напротив, терпит и, по-моему, очень нам благодарна. Был еще один случай: умерла одна из наших змей. Нервы у меня были на пределе, и я пошла спать, взяв с собой удава Машеньку. Обычно она старается уползти, но в тот день будто почувствовала, насколько мне морально тяжело. Мы с ней уснули в обнимку. Знаете, она будто забрала себе весь негатив. Говорят, что так делают кошки. Оказывается, змеи тоже это умеют.

Игуана Данечка очень умная, хорошо чувствует настроение домашних. При этом любит показать свой характер. Прекрасно понимает слово «нельзя», но, только услышав его, все делает наоборот. Несмотря на то, что она по определению вегетарианка и объела все квартирные растения, любит полакомиться оставленными на столе макаронами с мясом. Вообще, по интеллекту игуаны приравниваются к собакам. Наверно, поэтому прекрасно поддаются дрессуре. Я где-то читала, что один мужчина приучил свою игуану приносить ему тапочки. Но мне этого не надо».

http://www.konkurent.ru/list.php?id=445

NEW YORK TIMES (New York) 29 November 09 As Sales Vanish, Skins Stay on Alligators (Campbell Robertson)

Raceland, La.: After five years, Tommy Fletcher and his alligator farming business are facing irreconcilable differences.

“It’s like a marriage,” he said. “It was a bumpy road, and then all of a sudden it was over.”

The alligator industry makes for an odd mix of hardy men on the bayou who smoke Camels and drive crumbling pickup trucks, and Paris and New York fashion setters who consider it reasonable to spend $12,000 on an alligator-strap watch.

This peculiar relationship worked well enough for decades, but it has soured as of late. Last year Louisiana farmers, who produce most of the world’s alligator skins, collected over 500,000 eggs from the wild. This year, for the first time, most farmers did not pick up any.

The economy is the lead culprit. Since the fall of 2008, even wealthy customers have begun balking at the price of alligator skin products, which can range from the expensive to the wildly expensive. Bumper crops in previous years, people in the industry say, left an oversupply just as the luxury market began to falter.

But some farmers insist that the newfound frugality of the Gucci set cannot by itself explain the absolute washout of the alligator business. More than a few are beginning to blame the practices of executives in the European fashion business.

“How can this industry fall out so quickly?” Stephen Bonnecarrere asked while tossing live alligators into bins at his father-in-law’s farm outside Houma. “It happened too fast.”

Since the 1980s, the State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has worked with farmers to maintain the state’s alligator population, estimated at one million to two million.

Alligator farming is hard, messy, costly work, and the lifestyle could not be further from that of the eventual Bergdorf Goodman shopper browsing for a pair of alligator skin loafers. Farmers, often in father-son teams, mark alligator nesting sites from helicopters, then go into the swamps by boat to gather the eggs, fending off mama gators with a pole. (By law, 12 percent of the grown alligators are returned to the wild.)

The landowners are paid for the eggs, and it is expensive to raise an alligator once hatched. The big ones — those that could end up as lavender handbags — tend to bite one another, making the skins worthless. So roughly 9 of 10 alligators reach their demise when they are only about four feet long.

Stolid men wade into shallow tanks and pull the alligators out by hand. Biting happens. After the gators are killed with a stab to the brain, they are skinned and sorted: heads and claws for the French Quarter souvenir shops, meat for the Cajun restaurants, guts for turtles, dogs or anything else whose tastes run that way.

For decades, the skins would be sold to 10 or 15 independent, often family-owned tanneries around the world that specialized in reptile skin, or so-called exotics. The prices were generally good, even generous. Some farmers, the ones that ran big operations, made millions of dollars.

The tanneries in turn would sell to the high-end fashion houses like Cartier, Hermès and Gucci, and from there the alligator would end up wrapped around someone’s wrist.

But things changed. In the mid 1990s, Hermès began buying tanneries and, as of a couple of years ago, became the largest player in the exotic tannery business.

Hermès bought aggressively from the farmers, and is still buying, though recently at prices far lower than in the past and lower even than the price of raising an alligator. All of this could be attributed to a very bad market. Luxury watch sales, on which the farmers are hugely dependent, are off by as much as 25 percent. But farmers look at the situation and say something does not add up.

While the tanneries are offering farmers little for their raw product, citing the recession, fashion houses are complaining about the astronomical prices for tanned hides. Many labels are giving up and moving away from alligator altogether, and well-known luxury brands like Manolo Blahnik say it is increasingly difficult to make a profit on such an expensive product.

“Every time I go to Neiman Marcus and say every year the price is going up, they fight me tooth and nail,” said George D. Malkemus III, the president of Manolo Blahnik. “They say, ‘I’m not going to spend $4,000 for an alligator shoe.’ ”

If alligator is still popular but is simply unaffordable, asked Zachary Casey, who until three years ago owned one of the largest farms in the state, why are thousands of the reptiles sitting unwanted in Louisiana? And why have prices for the raw product dropped so low? He says Hermès is hoarding the skins, forcing other fashion houses to pay dearly and leaving the farmers with few other options.

Caroline Schwartz-Mailhe, a spokeswoman for Hermès, said in an e-mail message that the company bought only about a third of the skins produced in Florida, Georgia and Louisiana, far from a monopoly. Ms. Schwartz-Mailhe added that the continued aggressive buying from farmers was a way “to support them in these difficult times and to respond to Hermès’ increasing development in alligator skins.”

Recent signs suggest that the luxury market is rebounding, at least somewhat. But some of the smaller farms simply will not make it.

Mr. Fletcher has been losing $15,000 a month on his little farm off the highway here near Raceland, about 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. He found a python and a loggerhead turtle and is considering opening a roadside zoo for tourists. But the plan of making it big in alligators, which once seemed like a good idea, has left him heavily in debt.

“I guess it’s like being married to Miss America,” Mr. Fletcher said. “You get all the benefits of the hugs and kisses, but she’s mighty high maintenance.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/us/30gator.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

YOMIURI SHIMBUN (Tokyo, Japan) 29 November 09 Iwate / Town woos women with turtle hot pot

Women in Nishi-Wagamachi are waxing lyrical over a newly created nabe hot pot dish that they claim helps keep them trim while also having antiaging benefits.

The new dish, yukihada suppin nabe, makes use of the town's renowned soft-shelled turtles that contain plenty of collagen and are low in fat.

It has been quickly taken up by eight of the town's ryokan. There also are claims that the new dish blesses consumers with pristine, snow-white skin.

The new dish was created by Genki na Nishi-Wagamachi Nettowaku (Active Nishi-Wagamachi Network), comprising such organizations as the town government and the town's commerce and industry association.

Since the 1990s, the local government has utilized the town's abundant onsen resources and bred soft-shelled turtles. Suppon turtles are considered to have nutritional effects, and are particular popular among middle-aged and elderly men. However, the turtles also have been growing in popularity among females in the region.

This spurred the network to ask Tsunao Kato, chairman of the prefecture's chef association, to create a new dish utilizing suppon turtles that women would like.

The suppon soup features genpidama (weight-reducing balls), comprising soft-shelled turtle meat wrapped in yam, and tetsutori dama (iron-absorbing balls), which aid iron absorption iron and utilize vitamin B12-packed lotus roots. The soup also contains numerous vegetables and is rich in collagen.

The town has a diverse variety of onsen hot springs, including Suna Yuko, a sand bath where guests are buried up to their necks in sand warmed by hot springs and which is said to help to accelerate one's metabolism. Consuming yui purin (yui pudding) made from a local tofu shop's soy milk also is said to benefit consumers.

An official of the network said, "A person's skin will be improved both inside and outside in Nishi-Wagamachi."

In principle, one must be an overnight guest at one of the ryokan to enjoy suppon nabe.

However, Hotel Tairyukaku, Ikkyukan, Hotto Habu Kinshu, Mantaka, and Honkan Shunzanso, Suehiro, offer a single-day course starting from 4,000 yen, including entry to each ryokan's bath.

Lodging also is necessary in Yoshinoya and Yamado. Reservations are required at all the above establishments.

For more information, contact the network at (0197) 82-3284

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091129TDY10002.htm

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION 27 November 09 Two jailed for beating sacred crocodile

(AFP) A court in southern Bangladesh sentenced two men to two years in jail after they beat and blinded a sacred crocodile at a Muslim shrine, police said Thursday.

A magistrate handed down the punishment after the two - caretakers of the 15th century Khan Jahan Ali shrine in coastal Bagerhat district - were found guilty of "brutal treatment" of the animal, inspector Khairul Anam said.

"They beat the crocodile, which just laid eggs, mercilessly with sticks. One of its eyes was damaged and a front leg was seriously injured," he said, adding a woman filed the case after being moved by the plight of the animal.

The men were sentenced in absentia, he added.

A pond in front of the shrine is home to crocodiles revered by thousands of devotees who visit the site. The caretakers collect money by showing the crocodiles to pilgrims.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/27/2754995.htm?section=justin

EL ECONOMISTA (Spain) 26 November 09 Los investigadores crean refugios artificiales para salvar los reptiles de Doñana

Investigadores de la Universidad de Granada y de Barcelona han creado refugios artificiales para salvar los reptiles que habitan en el Parque Nacional de Doñana (Huelva), especies muy amenazadas tras el accidente de la mina de Aznalcóllar registrado hace once años.

Las investigaciones, que se iniciaron hace nueve años, demostraron que la población de esta clase de reptiles quedó "muy empobrecida", ya que de las trece especies existentes sólo sobrevivió una al accidente: la salamanquesa común (Tarentola mauritanica), ha informado hoy la Universidad de Granada.

Según el investigador del departamento de Biología Animal de la Universidad, Juan Manuel Pleguezuelos, el hábitat quedó casi desprovisto de refugios naturales para la fauna terrestre tras el desastre, hecho que provocó la escasez de reptiles.

http://www.eleconomista.es/ciencia/noticias/1729155/11/09/los-investigadores-crean-refugios-artificiales-para-salvar-los-reptiles-de-Donana.html

NIEUWS (Netherlands) 26 November 09 Bengalese krokodillenbeulen veroordeeld

(Novum/AP) - Een rechtbank in het zuidwesten van Bangladesh heeft twee mannen tot twee jaar gevangenisstraf met dwangarbeid veroordeeld omdat zij eerder dit jaar een zwangere krokodil hadden afgeranseld bij een islamitisch altaar. Dat heeft de krant Dhaka's Daily Star donderdag gemeld.

De krokodil, 'Pipil', raakte ernstig gewond en verloor een oog toen zij door de mannen met bamboestokken werd afgetuigd bij een altaar in het district Bagerhat, 135 kilometer ten zuidwesten van de hoofdstad Dhaka.

Bij het altaar leven enkele tientallen krokodillen in een vijver waar pelgrims ze kunnen bekijken en voeren. De twee mannen hoorden bij een groep die geld inzamelt van bezoekers door hun de krokodillen te tonen. De groep staat erom bekend de krokodillen te slaan als zij niet reageren op commando's.

In de afgelopen tien jaar zouden door dit soort mishandeling al vijf krokodillen het leven hebben verloren. Onder de Bengalese wet zijn krokodillen beschermd en mensen die de dieren mishandelen of doden kunnen tot vijf jaar gevangenisstraf krijgen.

http://buitenland.nieuws.nl/576827/bengalese_krokodillenbeulen_veroordeeld

WAASKRANT (Belgium) 26 November 09 Vrijwilligers dienen leefwereld der amfibieën

Temse. De vrijwilligers van het poelenproject in de gemeente Temse blijven fantastisch werk leveren op vlak van milieu met dan bijzondere nadruk op het in standhouden van de amfibieënpopulatie in poelen die in het landelijk gedeelte van de gemeente zijn gelegen. Een drietal jaren geleden deed de gemeente een oproep naar de bevolking om zich te melden indien ze interesse hadden om mee te werken aan het poelenplan. Er kwamen meer dan 30 reacties op en het duurde niet lang of er werd gestart met inventarisaties van de poelen of waterplassen en 'hoekputten' waar padden, kikkers en salamanders zich thuis konden voelen.

De gemeente Temse werd verdeeld in 12 regio’s en naargelang de vrijwilligers woonden, hebben die in hun regio gespot en de plaats van de poelen in kaart gebracht. In tweede instantie werden ook de amfibiesoorten vastgesteld. De vrijwilligers kregen een opleiding hoe ze bijvoorbeeld fuiken moesten zetten en de schepbeurten moesten uitvoeren. Zo werd op verschillende plaatsen de aanwezigheid van kamsalamanders vastgesteld en dat zelfs op plaatsen waar men dat niet van vermoedde zoals o.a. in Tielrode. Deze taak zetten ze nog steeds verder.

Zowel de ligging als de als de aanwezige dieren en planten werden in kaart gebracht. In een eerste fase werden ze hierbij ondersteund door Dominique Verbelen van Natuurpunt-Studie.

Regionaal Landschap kwam dan tussen en daardoor konden bepaalde doelstellingen nog beter worden verwezenlijkt. Ook de gemeente bleef zich inzetten en zo kunnen momenteel poelen worden geruimd en worden heringericht. In totaal waren er een twintig projecten die moesten worden aangepakt. Meerdere zijn al uitgevoerd en nu zijn de ruim- en kapwerken aan de gang.

Vooral in het voorjaar zijn de vrijwilligers fel in de weer, na de overzet van de padden, kikkers en salamanders die aldus tegen het verkeer worden beschermd. Aandacht gaat dan naar de volwassen amfibieën en ook naar de larven. Dankzij de doorgedreven inzet van die vele vrijwilligers werd ontdekt dat het aantal poelen waar bv. salamanders vertoeven bijna verdubbelde van 21 naar 35. Kleine watersalamanders vonden ze zelfs in alle poelen, kamsalamander in bijna de helft van de poelen en de zeldzame alpenwatersalamander in 1 poel. Het werd steeds maar mooier naargelang alle poelen werden onderzocht.

Astrid Martens uit Tielrode is de woordvoerster van de vrijwilligers die het poelenwerk bijzonder graag doen. "We worden regelmatig ook samengeroepen voor een vergadering met de gemeente. De ganse werkgroep is verdeeld in kleine werkgroepjes en die spreken dan onderling af wat ze gaan doen.Het is echt heel, heel plezierig en je leert er ook veel mee. Ik zelf ben als leek begonnen. Een salamander kende ik wel maar al die soorten... Bij de vrijwilligers zijn er ook wel mensen bij die veel weten." De vrijwilligers werken onder toeziend oog van de milieu- en natuurraad en hebben aandacht voor de honderden rootputten, veedrinkpoelen en hoekputten die de gemeente rijk is.

http://www.waaskrant.be/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13945&Itemid=31

VARA (Hilversum, Netherlands) 25 November 09 Meer hazelwormen in Nederland

Het gaat beter met de hazelworm in Nederland. Waarnemers van natuurorganisatie Ravon hebben in totaal 652 volwassen hazelwormen en 45 jonge exemplaren aangetroffen, wat betekent dat de populatie iets groeit. De meeste dieren zijn gezien rond Maastricht, in de Kampina in Noord-Brabant, op het Wapserveld in Drenthe en in de buurt van Wageningen op de hei.

Dat meldde Ravon woensdag op de internetpagina natuurbericht.nl. Vrijwilligers hebben op 140 trajecten in Nederland reptielen geteld. Dat gebeurt elk jaar om het Meetnet Reptielen, dat onder meer wordt gebruikt voor wetenschappelijk onderzoek, te actualiseren.

Een hazelworm is in tegenstelling tot wat veel mensen denken, geen slang en ook geen worm. Het is een pootloze hagedis van ongeveer 50 centimeter lang. Hazelwormen verschuilen zich in zandgebieden en heidestruiken, maar zijn soms te zien als ze in de zon gaan liggen. Een hazelworm kan net als alle hagedissen zijn staart afwerpen, als hij in gevaar is. Die groeit dan echter niet meer aan. Daaraan ontleent het beest de Latijnse naam Anguis fragilis, wat breekbare slang betekent.

Dat het zwaar beschermde dier het op dit moment goed doet in Nederland, blijkt ook uit het feit dat waarnemers de laatste jaren steeds op nieuwe plekken hazelwormen zien. Ditmaal is dat gebeurd in Twente en op twee plekken in de buurt van Hilversum.

http://vroegevogels.vara.nl/nieuws-item.131.0.html?&tx_ttnews%5BpS%5D=1259166221&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=351537&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=123&cHash=0c6d44744c

ASIA NEWS NETWORK (Bangkok, Thailand) 24 November 09 Filipinos snap up crocodile meat (Alastair McIndoe, The Straits Times)

The Hai Kang Restaurant in Manila's upmarket Greenhills district has been serving crocodile meat, sauteed or in a broth, for a few months now.

As bait to get his regulars to try this unfamiliar meat here, owner Renato See tells them: "Try it. If you don't like it, don't pay for it." They all paid, he said.

Crocodile meat is growing in popularity in many parts of Southeast Asia. The first venture in the Philippines to breed crocodiles for their meat as well as their skin started just seven months ago.

Restaurants and delicatessens are not exactly snapping it up, but more are beginning to bite, said Coral Farms operations manager Benedict Solco.

Crocodile meat is lean and high in protein, and its unobtrusive taste enables it to deeply absorb flavours from sauces and spices. The best cuts are said to be the strip loin just above the vertebrae and from the neck and and inside the tail.

A popular cliche is that the meat tastes like chewy chicken, although the texture is more complex than chewy and the flavour blander than chicken.

"We have crocodiles in the Philippines, but they have never been a food source. So people are a bit hestitant," said Solco. "It's not like in Singapore or Thailand, which are more open to exotic meats, but we started only in February."

Coral Farms has hatched around 3,000 crocodiles from a stock of 13,000 this year on an estate in Rizal province, a two-hour drive from Manila. The crocodiles are slaughtered at age four, when they have grown to about 2.7m.

While the Philippines is home to the world's most endangered crocodile species - Crocodylus mindorensis, or the Philippine crocodile - Coral Farms breeds the larger and more fearsome saltwater or estuarine crocodile found across Southeast Asia.

"We're focusing on a few restaurants, hoping they will create some memorable dishes from crocodile meat," said Solco, adding that one delicatessen in Manila is working on a line of low-fat 'croc sausages'.

At Hai Kang Restaurant, a sizzling plate of crocodile meat sauteed with ginger and onion and served with satay sauce costs 700 pesos, about double the price of a main-course dish there.

"Our chef comes from Hong Kong and he experimented on marinating the meat before creating this dish," said See.

He believes that if crocodile meat finds a niche in the Philippines, it will be as an exotic meat for more adventurous diners.

To be sure, nobody expects it to replace lechon - a cholesterol bomb of spit-roasted suckling pig - as the nation's favourite dish.

http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=8778&sec=9

DAILY ECHO (Bournemouth, UK) 24 November 09 Foreign lizards threat to our native species (Jane Reader)

Alien species of lizard have caused a sharp decline in the number of protected sand lizards on Dorset’s cliffs, research has revealed.

Wall lizards and green lizards, native to parts of mainland Europe, are taking over their territory, breeding at four times the rate of the local reptiles.

Now a detailed study will be carried out to assess the impact of the invaders amid fears for the future of the native Dorset sand lizards.

Experts said local breeders have been slowly introducing the species over the last 15 years, despite knowing it is against the law.

“It is an ill-advised thing to do,” said Dave Bird of the British Herpetological Trust.

“They see these lizards running around when they are on holiday and think it would be nice to have the same thing here.”

Mr Bird said the aliens have taken hold on sand cliffs in the Boscombe, Bournemouth and Poole areas and also in quarries in the Purbeck and Portland areas.

“They are not doing much harm in the quarries because there are no native species there but I believe they have brought disease to the areas where there are sand lizards.”

The trust has now enlisted the help of the Institute of Zoology at London Zoo where lizards will be tested for disease. The issue featured on a BBC Inside Out documentary last night, which looked at the impact alien species are having in Britain.

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4755507.Foreign_lizards_threat_to_our_native_species/

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN (New York, New York) 23 November 09 DNA tests find "extinct" Siamese crocodile (John Platt)

For nearly 20 years, the critically endangered Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) has been considered nearly extinct in the wild, victimized by habitat loss and poaching. A small population was found in Cambodia in 2000 and, until now, it was believed that, at most, 250 of the rare crocodiles existed in the world.

But recently, conservationists became aware of a new population of Siamese crocodiles, all of which were already living in captivity at Cambodia's Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center. According to researchers from Fauna & Flora International (FFI), this means there is hope of creating a captive-breeding program to save the Siamese crocodile from extinction.

The newly discovered crocs were originally suspected to be hybrids of multiple crocodile species. But conservationists managed to wrestle all 69 crocs living at the center (not an enviable job) to obtain DNA samples. Testing proved that 35 of the 69 animals were purebred Siamese, including six adults and 29 juveniles and hatchlings.

"This could provide a critical lifeline for the long-term preservation of this critically endangered species," Phnom Tamao Director Nhek Ratanapech said in a prepared statement.

"For the first time in Cambodia, we have a captive population of animals that we know 100 percent are purebred Siamese crocodiles," Adam Starr, who manages the Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Program, told the Associated Press. The program is a joint effort of the Cambodian government and FFI.

FFI and other conservation groups will now help the staff at Phnom Tamao to come up with a breeding program that could yield new crocodiles as early as next year. If successful, they will also work with the IUCN Reintroduction Specialist Group to release Siamese crocodiles back into the wild once the offspring have reached two years of age.

Siamese crocodiles were hunted into near-extinction in the mid–20th century due to their highly prized skin, which is much softer than that of other crocodile species. Researchers knew that some hybrid crocs on Cambodian farms had Siamese DNA because they had long ago been crossbred with other crocodile species to produce larger, faster-growing, softer-skinned animals for commercial exploitation. This is the first time that purebred Siamese crocodiles have been found among any hybrids anywhere in Cambodia.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=dna-tests-find-extinct-siamese-croc-2009-11-23

ЧАС / HOUR (Riga, Latvia) 23 November 09 Поет бомбина на пруду (Светлана Гартованова)

Бомбина, она же жерлянка, она же литовская лягушка, получила на свою недвижимость из Европы 2,3 миллиона евро. Вам бы тоже хотелось приобрести жилье за счет еврофондов? Но для этого надо принадлежать к исчезающему виду...

По существу жерлянка - не лягушка, а одна из древнейших амфибий. Селится в мелких, прогреваемых солнцем прудах, в тихих местах, богатых растительностью. Сами понимаете, такая сельская идиллия нравится и людям, поэтому для бедных жерлянок места почти не остается. Единственная надежда - опять же человек. Ему и надо всего лишь на южной стороне пруда сделать пологий склон площадью метра два и оставить его бомбинам. В благодарность весной они устроят концерт под окнами.

Чтобы подтолкнуть сельских жителей к такому шагу, в Европе регулярно проводятся конкурсы на лучшую песню жерлянок. Эксперты записывают на прудах их очень своеобразный, не похожий на обычное кваканье, хор и отсылают на прослушивание авторитетному жюри. Латгальские жерлянки в этом «Евровидении» для амфибий участвуют совсем недавно. Их и обнаружили-то в наших местах всего несколько лет назад. До этого считалось, что граница распространения этих земноводных пролегает по Литве.

Поначалу обнаружили всего семь особей. Когда стали считать тщательнее, то нашли около 300. Их теперь не только берут на учет. Некоторых ловят и на зиму помещают в аквариумы Латгальского зоопарка, чтобы с ними ничего не случилось. Весной выпускают туда же, где поймали. А вот следующей весной жерлянки отправятся в пруды, отрытые специально для них.

Известные биологи датчанин Ларс Бриггс и его коллега из Германии Хауке Древс руководят этим европроектом. Они приехали в Даугавпилс, чтобы обсудить все детали сооружения дома для жерлянок и лично вырыть вместе с латвийскими биологами три пруда.

Ларс Бриггс - всемирно известный ученый, и его визит для нас - большая честь, - говорит директор Латгальского зоопарка Михаил Пупиньш. - Бомбина занесена не только в Красную книгу, но и во Второе приложение Всеевропейского списка особо редких охраняемых животных. Даугавпилсский район - «кузница кадров» хладоустойчивых лягушек. Больше в Латвии их нигде нет. В Дании и Германии, где также создают пруды для жерлянок, - намного теплее. Пруды для них должны быть неглубокими, с пологими берегами. Чаще всего такие пруды можно встретить в окружении леса, на нераспаханной земле, между небольшими холмами. Вроде бы таких мест у нас немало, но ведь надо получить согласие владельца...

Увы, не все согласны дать приют жерлянкам. В народе до сих пор ходят легенды, будто лягушки молоко у коров пьют или огурцы портят (представить подобные сцены довольно трудно даже с богатым воображением). Но работа по сохранению редких животных постепенно меняет сознание. Некоторые владельцы земли сами звонят в зоопарк и сообщают о прудах с жерлянками.

Вернувшись поздно вечером со строительства поселений для бомбин, ученые сфотографировались возле скульптуры черепахи, которая установлена на центральной улице Даугавпилса. Для них это не просто декоративный предмет. Новый европроект, который уже подготовлен сотрудниками Латгальского зоопарка, будет посвящен сохранению сразу трех редких животных, в том числе - болотной черепахи. Под Даугавпилсом уже функционирует черепашья ферма, где в созданном специально для них водоеме черепахи живут и успешно размножаются. Пришла пора создавать для них подходящие условия на воле. Нет, заболачивать специально латгальские поля не будут. Но взять под охрану заказники, где было бы вольготно лягушкам, черепахам и змеям, придется.

http://www.chas-daily.com/win/2009/11/24/g_016.html?r=32

HARTFORD COURANT (Connecticut) 22 November 09 Highway Bypass And Turtle Tunnel Seeing Traffic (Jon Lender)

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for a $100 million highway bypass that will decrease traffic in the commercial center of the western Connecticut town of Brookfield, the state's transportation commissioner referred jokingly to the unusual complications that haunted a three-decade effort to build a 2.3-mile stretch of expressway.

"I have to concede that there was a minor scare late last night on this project," Commissioner Joseph Marie said — as officials including Gov. M. Jodi Rell, the most prominent of Brookfield residents, stood ready to use oversize scissors to cut a blue ribbon stretched across a lane of the Route 7 bypass.

"As many of you know, we had to build a tunnel for some turtles to get up and down the hill," Marie said. "And to make sure that the tunnel was functioning properly we had to actually put little GPS beacons on the turtles to make sure that they were going up and down the hill and using the tunnel effectively. So last night I got a call from the attorney representing the turtles, and he said he was going to file an injunction, because he considered it [an] invasion of the turtles' privacy. But we were able to work a deal. We've eliminated the beacons and the turtles are all happy, so we are going to open the road today."

He was kidding, of course. But the interesting thing about his fanciful little story is that most of it was true.

The only false parts were about a lawyer seeking an injunction for the turtles and the removal of the "beacons" from the turtles. There actually are 22 Eastern box turtles with GPS tracking devices the size of a quarter epoxied to their backs, and they're now crawling in and out of a $1 million tunnel under the highway.

The satellite tracking is part of a five-year, state-contracted study to ensure survival of the turtles and Eastern hog-nosed snakes, both of which are classified as "species of special concern," as well as what are actually called "slimy salamanders," which are a "threatened" species. Neither label is as bad as "endangered."

Environmental regulations on a major construction project such as this one range from soil erosion to water pollution and preservation of wildlife habitats. By now they are accepted as necessary and normal. But sometimes the usual necessities breed unusual responses — such as the turtle tunnel, which is about 7 feet high, 20 feet wide and 60 feet long to accommodate anything from amphibians to deer.

The tunnel was a consequence of officials choosing a route through a 108-acre quarry property of wooded, rocky hills and a big lake, and was among several million dollars in late design changes including removal of extra rock.

A concrete wall stretches a couple of hundred yards on either side of the highway near the tunnel, with an overhang to keep the turtles from climbing onto the roadway and under rapidly rolling tires.

Environmental consultant Dennis Quinn of New Milford has installed a motion-sensing camera on a pole inside the tunnel to take pictures of what comes through. During the day, a string of lights illuminates the interior to avoid the darkness that might discourage turtle traffic. If it were too dark in there, the turtles might not go in, because, as Quinn said, they are "diurnal" — which means that they are active during the day, as opposed to nocturnal.

Quinn, a herpetologist who specializes in amphibian and reptile research, uses an electronic receiving device to record the GPS data on movements of the turtles, whose population comprises about "50 individuals." Asked how far away the device can pick up these individuals from, he said he was not at liberty to say. He did allow, however, that the turtles' habitat area is a few "hectares" — which means several hundred meters by several hundred meters.

A grassy field, downhill from the rocky slope that the highway passes through, has been covered in places with piles of sticks and brush. This is a comfort to the turtles that Quinn said are "subject to predation" from "large canines" — meaning that big dogs or toothy mammals such as coyotes might hurt them.

The state departments of transportation and environmental protection wrangled for years over a permit, which the DEP finally issued to authorize the path that transportation planners chose for the highway through the property of an active quarry business.

That choice had not only environmental consequences, but legal ones: The quarry owners ended up suing the state because they claimed the DOT's payment of $4.1 million to condemn the land in 2004 was woefully inadequate.

This past summer, the project made big news when a Superior Court judge ordered that the state pay an additional $28 million, finding in effect that the quarry owners were subjected to predation of a different kind — unjustifiably low property appraisals obtained by the DOT.

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-tunnel-for-turtles-1122.artnov22,0,1816915.column

THE HINDU (Chennai, India) 21 November 09 Crocodile mauls woman to death

Cuddalore: A crocodile killed S. Savithiri (45) of Velakudi near Vallampadugai in Chidambaram block on Thursday.

When she was grazing sheep close to the Melaru canal, the crocodile sprang from the water and dragged her in. On hearing her cry for help, people in the vicinity pelted the crocodile with stones and hit it with logs, forcing it to leave Savithiri with bleeding injuries. She died on way to hospital.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/21/stories/2009112161400800.htm

THE TELEGRAPH (London, UK) 20 November 09 Will the natterjack toads go nuclear? (Geoffrey Lean)

Guess who's about to become a new green hero. Mr Toad. For he has just been found standing in the way of the Government's nuclear juggernaut.

Britain's largest colony of natterjack toads – a rare and highly protected species – would be affected by a planned nuclear power station at Kirkstanton, on the Duddon estuary, the Cumbria Wildlife Trust revealed last week.

Kirkstanton was always going to be one of the most controversial sites. It is one of only two not at an existing nuclear power station; and it would demolish Britain's second-oldest commercial windfarm, Haverigg, six of whose eight turbines are within its proposed footprint. A vigorous local protest group has sprung up.

None of this bothered young Ed Miliband, who approved the site the other day. But the toads – whose raucous call makes them Europe's noisiest amphibian – are formidable opponents. Under both national and European law it is a criminal offence to disturb them or damage their habitat in any way.

They also pose a challenge to the Government's new, distinctly less democratic, arrangements for giving planning permission. These depend on a new Infrastructure Planning Commission which, says the trust, has no wildlife expertise.

All this makes me recall one of my favourite quotes, from Remy Carle, a former French nuclear chief, when asked why he did not hold public inquiries before building reactors. "When you are draining the pond," he retorted, with unconscious humour, "you don't tell the frogs".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/geoffrey-lean/6617454/Will-the-natterjack-toads-go-nuclear.html

THE GUARDIAN (London, UK) 19 November 09 Fossil hunters unearth galloping, dinosaur-eating crocodiles in Sahara (Ian Sample)

Fossil hunters have uncovered the remains of primitive crocodiles that "galloped" on land and patrolled the broad rivers that coursed through north Africa one hundred million years ago.

The skeletons of five creatures that walked with dinosaurs – and ate them – were unearthed in remote and rocky regions of what are now Morocco and Niger during a series of expeditions in the Sahara desert.

Three of the crocodiles are new species and include Kaprosuchus saharicus, a 6.5m-long beast with three sets of dagger-like tusks and an armoured snout for ramming its prey.

Another species, Laganosuchus thaumastos, was of similar length but had a pancake-flat head and is thought to have lurked in rivers with its jaws open, waiting for unsuspecting fish to pass.

The most striking feature the beasts have in common was revealed by their bone structure, which suggests they were efficient swimmers but that when they clambered ashore they were also capable of galloping across the plains. Modern crocodiles crawl on their bellies because their legs sprawl out to the side.

"My African crocs appeared to have had both upright, agile legs for bounding overland and a versatile tail for paddling in water," writes Paul Sereno, a palaeontologist at the University of Chicago, in National Geographic Magazine. "These species open a window on a croc world completely foreign to what was living on northern continents."

The third new species, Araripesuchus rattoides, was only a metre long and probably used a pair of buckteeth in its lower jaw to dig for grubs.

The other two crocodiles unearthed during the expedition are known species. One had a wide, overhanging snout containing sensory areas that it used to sniff out prey in shallow waters. The other had a soft, dog-like nose and is thought to have been extremely agile.

Most of the fossils were found near the site where, in 2001, Sereno uncovered a 12m-long crocodile that lived 110m years ago. The beast, nicknamed SuperCroc, weighed around eight tonnes. The latest fossils are described in the journal ZooKeys.

"We were surprised to find so many species from the same time in the same place," said Hans Larsson, a palaeontologist at the University of Montreal, who took part in the expedition. "Each of the crocs apparently had different diets, different behaviours. It appears they had divided up the ecosystem, each species taking advantage of it in its own way."

The expedition was sponsored by National Geographic, which airs a documentary about the discoveries, When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs, at 5pm on Sunday 20 December on the Nat Geo Wild channel.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/nov/19/galloping-dinosaur-eating-crocodiles

PRESS-DEMOCRAT (Santa Rosa, California) 18 November 09 Santa Rosa street closed until January (Bleys W. Rose)

Fresno Avenue between Northpoint Parkway and Maitland Avenue in Santa Rosa is closed through early January to accommodate wood ramps that will funnel tiger salamanders — if there are any — off a future park site and toward vernal pools across the street.

The project is part of Santa Rosa’s effort to develop Airfield Neighborhood Park in a southwest area residential subdivision where neighbors have been awaiting a playground for years.

Fresno Avenue will be closed and local traffic will face a two-block detour until completion of the project, scheduled for early January, public works department officials said.

City crews began erecting ramps and fencing on Wednesday.

If things go according to plan, the endangered amphibians would leave their burrows during heavy rain and migrate to the moisture of vernal pools. A silt barrier surrounds the park and is designed to force tiger salamanders onto the ramps crossing Fresno Avenue.

The city has created a Web page for information at srcity.org/airfieldpark.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/ARTICLES/911189925/0/ENTERTAINMENT09

WFTV (Orlando, Florida) 17 November 09 Teen Turtle-Nappers Caught On Camera

Orange County, Fla: According to Orange County detectives, two teens were caught on camera (watch surveillance) sneaking around a backyard and stealing turtles. The man who lives in the home raises turtles to sell to pet stores.

His house in the Rio Pinar neighborhood in east Orange County has been burglarized and vandalized at least nine times in the past year.

But this time, he caught the young crooks on surveillance camera. The man said he was tired of getting burglarized by the teenagers so he set up cameras and caught the teens red-handed.

Carl Zinn, 78, says he's been in the turtle business for more than 50 years.

“I have a lot of kind of turtles. I have about 12 on hand right now,” Zinn said.

He's a wholesaler and sells the reptiles to pet stores throughout the United States. But recently his business has taken a hit.

“For the last year we've been suffering from kids coming over the fence,” he said.

The video shows a teenager hopping over the fence, breaking into one of the cages and putting the turtles in his pocket. Then a second teenager runs up to another cage, grabs a turtle and takes off.

Zinn's been hit nine times, and two months ago the teens stole six iguanas.

“That’s what we depend on to pay the bills, pay the truck payment and so forth,” Zinn said.

Zinn says the last time the teenagers broke in, not only did they take a couple of turtles, they took a knife and damaged his cages. He lost 400 turtles out of the 4,000 reptiles he keeps in his pins.

“They knock the drain cover off and the turtles just come out through the drain and walk all over the yard and into the neighborhood,” he described.

Luckily, Zinn's cameras got a good shot of one of the teenagers. Orange County detectives believe that suspect is 13 years old and they're working on leads.

Zinn says the turtles sell for about $15 a piece.

http://www.wftv.com/news/21641955/detail.html

DAILY TIMES (Lahore, Pakistan) 14 November 09 Villagers confine rare turtle, offer prayers

(Reuters) Hundreds of poor Hindu villagers in eastern India have refused to hand over a rare turtle to authorities, saying it is an incarnation of god, officials said. Villagers chanting hymns and carrying garlands, bowls of rice and fruits are pouring in from remote villages to a temple in Kendrapara, a coastal district in eastern Orissa state. Policemen have struggled to control the gathering and have failed to persuade the villagers to give up the sea turtle. The turtle is protected in India and anyone found keeping one without permission can be jailed for a year or more and fined. But adamant villagers have refused to give up the reptile, saying the turtle bears holy symbols on its back and is an incarnation of lord Jagannath, a popular Hindu deity.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C11%5C14%5Cstory_14-11-2009_pg9_9