Crocodile Rock, Sri Lanka style

The first day of the CSG meeting was successful!  How did the events go…

Morning:

- Opening ceremonies where the Governor of the Central Province came in support of crocodile conservation in Sri Lanka

- Speaking with governor of daughter as she is a parasite-croc lover as well.  Hell yeah!

- Sit through talks of croc conservation and updates on status

Lunch

-Eat some hella good spicy Sri Lankan food!

- more croc conservation talks

Evening

- Swim, and head over to Welcome Banquet. And this is where things got crazy…

- Food galore, including and ice sculpture of a crocodile!  Bad ass

- Free booze (All of us were praying that the hotel knew who we are- CSG meetings = absurd amounts of alcohol consumption

- Cultural show that included dance and fire dancing!!!!  Absolutely gorgeous and beautiful

- Dance…  First, I love the fact that Sri Lankan men get on the dance floor and just go all out.  I danced with all:  Sri Lankans, the amazing Rom Whitaker, and steering committee members of the CSG like Alvaro and Peran, CSG members like Ashley Pearcy (who was getting down as she has knee surgery next week!!!  Party like a rock star!) and my fav dance partner, an 8 year old daughter of one of the CSG members.  Dancing with an 8 year old for 45 minutes, trying to keep up/entertained wiped me out!  After dancing for more than 2 hours straight, the night got lively.  As the alcohol increased (as well as the intoxication of some people) there was singing and stories, laughs and smiles.  A  good time was had by all!

Now, it would seem that a group like this would be unproductive in conservation, but that is not nearly so!  The Crocodile Specialist Group of the IUCN is the largest specialist sub committee, and one of the most financially stable in producing funding and research for crocodile conservation.  There are 7,000-8,000 members of the IUCN, and CSG members consist of about 438.  Us members are made up of 62 different countries.  And what I love about this group of scientists and conservationists is the collaboration- we are all out for the same thing, and instead of having ego, we share and collaborate.  And I think that is one of the reasons why we are so progressive and successful, and I love it!!!!

Ayubowan!!!!!

“Where is Sri Lanka?”  That’s what I asked the young boy who was representing his country at the Presidential Classroom International Summit in 1998 in Washington, D.C.  He was a delegate, like me, who was representing his region of the world in a mini, teenage version of the United Nations.  He told me about the culture, the food,  the wildlife.  Sri Lanka seemed sooo exotic and far away.  I remember thinking, “I would like to visit there one day.”  I guess dreams can come true…

Move forward to 15 years later:  where Saved By the Bell is possibly on re-runs now and no longer a Saturday morning show, when Will Smith was now a TV star, and not a rapper OR a movie star, and Backstreet boys are currently having reunion tours and are not the hot boy band that everyone swoons over.  After 34+ hours of traveling, I have arrived to Sri Lanka.  Not on holiday, but as a delegate- a delegate for conservation and preservation of crocodilians and their habitat, and as one of forerunners of crocodilian parasitology.  Sri Lanka is home to the 22^nd Working Meeting of the IUCN/Crocodile Specialist Group.  I always look forward to these meetings- not only are they intellectually stimulating, but are also one of the best social events I have ever attended too (and I have been to Coachella, Burning Man and La Tomatina!  Although, nothing beats La Tomatina in Spain!!!!).  

The first night was a flashback to my first CSG meeting in Manaus, Brazil- a night of drinking and socializing with the executive chairs on the future of crocodilian research.  After a couple of hours of sleep, it was off to the Sri Lanka Zoo where a veterinary workshop commenced.  Here, techniques of croc disease diagnosis, blood letting, dissection, etc was shared.  It was a great day as you always learn something new that can help out with your own techniques. 

Today was the steering committee where official business was discussed.  That official business ended early/switched to another room or area- the hotel bar.  Us CSG members took over the hotel bar for hours, hoping that the hotel was warned about our habits.  The social part of the conference is always the most important part of the conference- this is where the networking happens, the collaborations, the new ideas- and it is always happens after a couple of beers.  One thing I learned- if you are going to survive in this group, you better have a liking to alcohol and a strong liver.    

Beam me up Scotty!

It’s moments like this I would really love for the technology of teleportation.  After an 11hr flight to Tokyo, then a 6hr flight to Malaysia, I now have a 19hr layover in Kuala Lumpur.

Then I can finally get to my destination – Sri Lanka!  It’s that time again for another IUCN/Crocodile Specialist Group’s 22nd Working Meeting.  This will also be my first meeting as a CSG member, so in my head, that just means I need to step up my game in contributing to the conservation and preservation of crocodilians and their habitat, utilizing my knowledge of parasites and ecosystems.  These meetings are a perfect balance for me:  very intellectually stimulating, but also full of excitement and crazy stories and adventures.  And of course I love the fact of experiencing a new culture and new “exotic” foods.  The last couple of meetings I’ve eaten things I never thought before:  CSG Manaus 2010- I ate bug larvae out of a coconut; CSG Philippines 2012- I ate balut (I still gag at the thought).  I really don’t know what “exotic” foods they have in Sri Lanka, but guarantee I’ll eat it!  I’ve got a tradition going that I can’t break!

Why do I care about crocodiles and parasites?

Here is a letter to the editor I wrote for a Belizean newspaper

http://www.sanpedrosun.com/conservation/2013/04/20/letter-to-the-editor-understanding-the-crocodile/

Crocs to First Class

With all the traveling that I have been blessed to do, of course I’m going to have hiccups!  What was ending as an amazing trip ended in a wee bit of stress.  Bird flies into landing plane, breaking a light.  My flight to El Salvador, with a connection to Costa Rica, is delayed.  They tell me I’m not going to make my flight.  10 minutes later we are boarding- I might have a chance.  As I get off the plane in El Salvador, I run across the airport, thinking I have a chance.  All I hear is the Home Alone tune in my head as I run across the airport.  I get there- the plane left without me.  Well, TACA airlines is absolutely wonderful- paid hotel, meals, and upgrade to first class on the first flight to Costa Rica tomorrow.  I guess I shouldn’t complain as the last couple of days in Belize with research were pretty exciting…

After Guatemala, went back to Belize to finish up stomach flushing for parasites at ACES facility in Ladyville, and then back to Ambergris to try to catch a couple more.  The 24 hours I was in Ladyville, we sampled several crocs amongst other things at the ACES facility.  My clothes are all nasty and muddy, thus illustrating what a wonderful time it was!  One of the most amazing things I saw was the big American Croc known as George.  This guy was being illegally fed on Ambergris, caught by ACES, and removed as he was a threat to the locals’ safety as he had lost all his fear of humans.  He’s got to be at least 14ft now- his head is probably half the size or more of my total body length.  A force not to be reckon with!!!!!  Ladyville ended with a bang as I got 32 parasites out of one of the wild American Crocodiles caught.  Data, data, data!!!!!

 

 Back on the island, traps were set, and we decided to head up north as there were 2 crocs known to hang out behind some
houses around Coco Beach Resort.  Once they smelled the chicken, 2 popped their heads up (and 2 more later that night).  These crocs had been fed obviously by human hands, showing no fear.  We waited about 3 hours until a 9ft female went into the snare trap.  The capture went very smooth.  In a sense, we were lucky to have some local kids around.  Many had never seen a crocodile up close or touched one.  They were all asking questions and seemed very inquisitive about the croc, and what we were doing with it.  It was nice to hear one of the little girls tell her friends, “We can’t kill it because it’s important for the island.”  My eyes got teary  

 So as I sit in my hotel in El Salvador, the last 2 weeks have been pretty successful.  Now, off to Costa Rica for holiday, surfing and having adventures with my boyfriend, and setting up some research over there.  The major goal- to sample as many populations as possible of crocodilians throughout Central America, examining variation between urban and non-urban populations.  It may take some time, but I’m sooo looking for the unforgettable adventures and science to come!

 

Never underestimate the power of the Croc force

One bite, two out of control thrashes, a croc tooth hitting me in the face, and one charge.  Needless to say it was a crazy first day working in Guatemala.  I’m here at ARCAS, a rehabilitation center and sanctuary for exotic wildlife.  There are monkeys, an otter, white tail deer, macaws, jaguars, and much, much more!!!   My friend, and head vet of ARCAS (Alejandro) is helping me getting samples in Guatemala for my research.  We first stomach flushed crocodilians that were relocated to ARCAS via confiscation or because of relocation. 

 We started the day with the caimans.  These two caimans are believed to be hybrids between Caiman crocodilus fuscus and Caiman crocodilus crocodilus.  And these two caiman were the FATTEST, MOST OBESE crocodilians I had ever seen!!!!  The first caiman flush went pretty well, then came the second.  As Alejandro was trying to noose the male that was in the pool, he slipped into the pool with the caiman and next thing I know this caiman is doing the death roll around Alejandro’s upper thigh!  Luckily though, the caiman got the majority of his pants.  He still had some puncture wounds in his leg, some bruising, but he just took a breath and continued with the research.  A true croc researcher!!!

Next were the Morelet’s, and he warned us these gals were going to be trouble.  The first gal we flushed put up a good fight.  There was one point where I was putting a tube in her mouth and she clamped too hard, and next thing I know something hits me in the face-it was a tooth that snapped off!!!  I got to release her (and putting my hands around this 6 footers snout was a reminder of how small my hands are!!!), and luckily it went smoothly.

So during the time we are flushing the 6 footers mouth, the bigger girl (a bit over 7 feet, but bulky and with an attitude) is growling behind us.  She was not an easy catch- although she was tied, the first time we tried to jump on her she snapped back with brutal force.  The second time we got her, and she put up a fight the whole time!!!!!  I felt bad for this Morelet- she was bitchy for a reason.  She was in a watering hole, and when she got caught in it and it was too deep to get out, people were throwing rocks at her, and she is now blind (or near-blind) in both eyes.  I would be a major bitch too if people did that to me for no reason.  Anyways, we flushed her.  It took three of us with all of our power to pry open her jaws so she could let go of the tube.  I was sweating from pulling so hard.  When all was said and done, we released her and she turned right at us and charged for a bit, but then went back into her pool.  This is one croc that does not care for humans!

So after a day of fun, I asked Alejandro if we could take out the little Morelet’s for my undergrad.  So I went into the enclosure and this little 1 meter croc put up a fight (Little Man syndrome is what I like to call it).  It was one fun catch, but Helen agreed- Morelet’s have one bad ass attitude!

So our night ended with catching a hatchling in one of the near-by lagoons and catching to escape Kinkajous who tried to poo and piss on our head.  Ahh, memories of working with the chimps at the LA Zoo….

Croc Déjà vu

Three years ago a call in the morning caught me and ACES by surprise.  We were on Ambergris Caye in Belize trying to catch a problematic croc (problematic because people built their homes around the lagoon the croc called home) and relocate it before locals decided to put a bullet in its head.  We set up a trap that was very much like one Steve Irwin created to catch big Salties in Northern Australia.  I remember him saying it usually took 3 days to finally catch a croc in the net.  Well, this was the 4^th morning so we didn’t think we were going to have any luck.  But we were wrong.  The Ambergris police told us to come ASAP as a crowd was already starting to build. All the gear was in the golfcart (people drive golfcarts on the island) so we just jumped in and started heading off.  Long story short, I caught a croc in my pajamas.

 Now I’m on Ambergris once again trying to catch crocs, but this time it is more research oriented.  I have an undergrad with me and this is her first wild croc, research experience.  We kept trying to get crocs, but ropes broke, lassos didn’t go round, etc.  We set up that net trap again with the help of ACES.  Well, 3^rd day came and still no luck.  The undergrad and I woke up the next morning hoping to get a call around 8:30am that a croc was in the trap as that was when the ACES team was going to go check on it.  9:30am rolled around and nothing.  I was in my bathing suit hanging out at the hostel we were staying at, then decided to go get a quick breakfast.  We came back around 10am, and walked in the office to see if ACES called.  One guy said “No, Vince didn’t call.”  But someone else said, “But Chris did- I think there is a croc in the trap!”  Flashbacks to that one morning years ago catching “Debbie” the croc.  But I decided to run upstairs and throw proper clothes on as I was not going to catch a croc in my bathing suit.

 So- success!  Helen got to handle her first wild crocodile- an 8ft male American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus).  Everything went VERY smoothly- Vince and Chris from ACES are great to work with, and nothing could have been done without them.