Working with the False Gharial – One of the World’s Largest, Rarest Crocodiles

F

findi

Well-Known Member
Hi All,
I find it difficult to express just how fortunate I’ve been in having had the chance to work with 12 Crocodilian species in the wild and captivity. Breeding Dwarf Caimans, wrestling Orinoco Crocodiles into boats, getting up close and personal to Gomek (a giant, now famous Salt Water Croc), rearing Indian Gharials…these and many other experiences remain etched in my memory. One species in particular cemented my interest in the group, and remains as much a mystery today as it was when I first saw it some 40 years ago – the massive False Gharial, Tomistoma schlegelii. Read more here Working with the False Gharial - One of the World's Largest Crocodiles
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.

Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog
Face Book http://on.fb.me/KckP1m
 
We've got False Gharial in our collection here in Saint Louis. Until I read your post, I was unaware they were so rare. I'll have to make a special detour into the Herpetarium to appreciate them more! Thanks for sharing.
 
The tomistomas at the Los Angeles Zoo have a nice new habitat. It is always fun to see these beautiful animals.
 
An enjoyable read as usual. Unless I missed it, your article did not mention maneaters. Have these crocs been known to take humans?
 
nanoboy said:
An enjoyable read as usual. Unless I missed it, your article did not mention maneaters. Have these crocs been known to take humans?
Click to expand...

Hi, thanks very much. There are no published records as far as I could tell (a co-worker looked into the lit some time ago), the jaw structure allows them to take animals to the size of a monkey or so, but the gape is much smaller than that of the generalist feeders, such as Nile crocs, Am alligators, etc. they are also quite shy, even as adults. In isolated parts of their range there could, I imagine, be incidents involving small children that were never recorded, but I've not heard of any. Best regards, frank
 
BlueSky said:
We've got False Gharial in our collection here in Saint Louis. Until I read your post, I was unaware they were so rare. I'll have to make a special detour into the Herpetarium to appreciate them more! Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

St Louis has a wonderful reptile house, and a long history of accomplishments in care/breeding. Thanks..please let me know what you think after visiting, best, Frank
 
nanoboy said:
Thanks for that! Did the article say that they cut open its belly and found the remains of the man? I get the impression that a man went missing, and they killed a big croc assuming it ate him.
Click to expand...
how come you never actually read the articles linked to? It says they killed a big Tomistoma and the remains of the man were in its belly.

".....within 17 hours of the attack the crocodile was caught and killed; it was almost 5m long and must have been over 50 years old. Inside were the remains of the man."
 
Chlidonias said:
how come you never actually read the articles linked to? It says they killed a big Tomistoma and the remains of the man were in its belly.

".....within 17 hours of the attack the crocodile was caught and killed; it was almost 5m long and must have been over 50 years old. Inside were the remains of the man."
Click to expand...

I did read the article, but I probably skim read it and missed the most important bit! :D Try using the forum and reading reading websites on a mobile phone and you will see how easy it is to miss stuff. ;)
 
Chlidonias said:
woot, double the irony, because you completely missed my jibe :D
Click to expand...

A jibe isn't a jibe if the other person doesn't follow. Is it a Kiwi joke? I thought you meant I typed the word 'reading' twice. A mobile phone screen only allows you to see about 6 words at a time.
 
nanoboy said:
A jibe isn't a jibe if the other person doesn't follow. Is it a Kiwi joke? I thought you meant I typed the word 'reading' twice. A mobile phone screen only allows you to see about 6 words at a time.
Click to expand...
keep thinking
 
oh and I meant gibe. (Jibe is an alternative spelling but also has the meaning of "being in accord or agreement with", which wasn't what I meant at all!). And also I meant it more like "a friendly gibe" rather than "a mean-spririted gibe". So don't get upset nanoboy :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top