(Healdton, OK) — An unidentified man from Healdton claims he was attacked by an alligator. KOCO-TV News reports the man was working in a pasture on Highway-76 when the four-foot reptile came out of a pond and charged at him. Wildlife personnel say the worker was not injured, and they captured the gator. A smaller version may still be in the pond.
Category Archives: Lizards
Exploreum announces three new exhibits
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MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The fun keeps coming. The Gulf Coast Exploreum has announced three upcoming exhibits for 2010. Everything from engineering to sea lions. There’s a lot to look forward to.
The Gulf Coast Exploreum is known to bring out the imagination of the young. The center announced three new exhibits making stops in the Port City for 2010.
“The Exploreum will be the only science center in the country to offer this kind of programming,” said Hela Sheth with the Exploreum.
The first is Explore TEC coming in May. TEC standing for Technology and Engineering Careers, is made possible by a $500,000 grant from NASA.
“This exhibit is full of software, a 3D printer, and it’s all going to boost students encouragement of engineering,” Sheth said.
Explore TEC focuses mainly on grades 6 through 12.
Now, for all ages, comes reptiles in Reptile Planet.
“We’ll be bringing in 30 exotic reptiles from more than 20 countries,” said Sheth.
The exhibit will include boa constrictors, pythons, snapping turtles and more.
The third exhibit will be coming in the fall, and will showcase sea lions in Sea Lion Splash.
Of course, these are all upcoming exhibits, there’s still plenty to do now.
Dinosaurs Downtown has had 68,000 visitors. There’s still three more weeks for you to have your prehistoric meet and greet. This larger than life exhibit features ten animatronic dinosaurs. They move, they roar, and one even spits. The exhibit ends on the April 25.
Fire damages Melbourne house
The Melbourne Fire Department responded to a fire at a single-family house on 719 Espanola Way about 8 a.m. Thursday.
The fire caused about $50,000 worth of damage to the house, according to initial estimates.
Firefighters entered the structure to find the kitchen and a couch on fire.
Several snakes and two lizards were rescued from the house while a cat perished in the fire.
No one was home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
Officers from the Brevard County Animal Services and Enforcement were called to assist the reptiles.
170kg crocodile brings life to sleepy town
IPOH: A group of fishermen here got more than they bargained for when they hauled up a 3.6m-long crocodile.
Fisherman Lau Kim San said they found the 170kg reptile entangled in their net near Sungai Tiram in Terong, about 80km from here, on Tuesday morning.
“When we were about to haul in our catch for the day, we noticed something big in our net and were shocked to see a big crocodile,” he said.
“The crocodile began to thrash violently as we pulled the net closer to our boat.”
He added that several fishermen had to be called in to help tie the crocodile to bring it to shore.
Lau said the sleepy town of Kuala Sapeteng was all excited about the catch and some even took the opportunity to pose for photographs with the reptile, while waiting for state Perhilitan officers to take custody of it.
Perak Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department director Shabrina Shariff said the crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, was a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act 972.
“It is a healthy adult crocodile and it took about 12 men to lift it into our truck,” she said yesterday.
“The crocodile was released into its habitat later,” Shabrina said, adding that it took about an hour to get it back into the river.
Real reptiles
The American Museum of Natural History, located at Central Park West and 79th Street, presents “Lizards and Snakes: Alive,” a special live-animal exhibition, which is now open to the public through Thursday, Sept. 2.
This attraction features more than 60 live lizards and snakes — known as squamates — and showcases some of their remarkable adaptations, including projectile tongues, deadly venom, amazing camouflage and surprising modes of movement.
Among the reptiles that will be seen are the Gila Monster, Eastern Water Dragon, Green Basilisk, Veiled Chameleon, the Blue-tongued Skink, Rhinoceros Iguana and a 14-foot Burmese Python. All of the specimens will be shown in recreated habitats, complete with ponds, tree limbs, rock ledges and live plants.
There are also numerous interactive stations that allow visitors to listen to recorded squamate sounds, get a close look at live geckos, test their knowledge about squamates and experience how a rattlesnake hunts by using a computer simulation program.
Call 212-769-5100 or go to www.amnh.org.
Plan to create Norfolk frog and toad atlas
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A Norfolk group is aiming to create the first atlas of the county’s amphibian and reptile populations but needs the help of eagle-eyed residents to make it happen.
With ponds teeming with life at this time of year the Norfolk Amphibian and Reptile Group (Narg) is asking people to survey their back gardens for frogs, toads and newts.
Steve Prowse , chairman of the group, said: “It’s a good way for people to contribute records and help with conservation. The Bird Atlas has proved very useful in charting the decline of some species but also the rise in others. We hope the Norfolk Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles will do the same.”
The group has been running for five years and has about 20 members whose work includes providing survey and identification training of Norfolk’s amphibians and reptiles, organising a programme of field trips held during the spring and summer months and practical conservation management.
Mr Prowse added: “We have some maps but a lot of the records are outdated. Norfolk has got some very rare and protected amphibians and reptiles, including the Great Crested Newt.”
It also has a population of Europe’s loudest toad, the natterjack, which is rare in other parts of the country.
The group would like all records from the last five years from any location with the species, number, date (approximate if not certain) and location. A grid reference would be helpful but not a necessity.
“Some of the more common amphibians are in decline nationally because of habitat loss and also disease but it will be interesting to see if the records show the same for Norfolk,” added Mr Prowse.
The atlas is an ongoing project for the group which needs another two or three years of records to make it happen.
Records should be sent to: Phil Parker, Narg, White Row Cottage, Leziate Drove, Pott Row,
King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 1DB or email philipparkerassociates@btconnect.com.
Connecticut Snake and Reptile Regulations
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has proposed new rules that seek to regulate the importation and possession of certain wild animals, including several species of snakes and other reptiles. The department is accepting written comment on the proposal until April 15.
The proposed draft rules attempt to clarify who may import, possess or liberate a particular wild animal, according to the state DEP. To that end, the state has proposed listing wild animals under four categories. Under the proposal, individuals wishing to import, own or liberate an animal listed in category one would have to obtain a permit. No one would be permitted to import or posses animals in categories two and three, expect for zoos, circuses, aquaria, laboratories, research facilities or municipal parks. No one would be permitted to import any animal in category four, expect for certain institutions, such as laboratories zoos and nature centers.
Category one includes animals that are locally, nationally or internationally considered endangered, threatened or of special concern.
Category two includes animals that are considered a threat to human safety due to their physical characteristics. This category includes a long list of animals, including Northern African pythons, Southern African pythons, reticulated pythons, amethystine pythons, green or common anacondas, yellow anacondas, Bolivian anacondas, certain monitor lizards and a number of other snakes and reptiles as well as primates, bears and large cats.
Category three includes species listed as injurious wildlife or considered a threat to agricultural crops or established species of flora and fauna due to the animal’s ability to adapt to Connecticut’s climate and thereby conflict or compete with native species.
Category four includes another long list of animals that are considered a threat to agricultural crops or established species of flora and fauna due to disease transmission or diminution of genetic integrity. Animals in category four include more than 100 species native to the state, such as the deer mouse, northern flying squirrel, purple finch, spotted turtle, marbled salamander and wood frog.
The state has extended the deadline to submit written comment from March 31 to April 15. Written comments may be sent to:
Jenny Dickson
Department of Environmental Protection
79 Elm St.
Hartford, CT 06106
Jenny.dickson@ct.gov