bear
21-06-07, 03:44 PM
Crocs are part and parcel of living and hunting in northern Australia, but there are a few precautions and signs to look for so you don’t end up as their next meal!
There are two kinds of crocodiles in Australia: the Estuarine, a saltwater crocodile and Johnsons, a freshwater crocodile, with the estuarine croc by far the most dangerous croc found in the world. the saltwater croc can grow as large as 7m+ and is by no means restricted to salt water often being found 100‘s of kilometres inland well within the freshwater swamps, billabongs and rivers where we as bow hunters so often venture in the pursuit of game. here’s some information that may well help you understand a bit about crocs to avoid it becoming an emergency situation or worse!
Crocodiles use a combination of active hunting and the more passive "sit and wait" strategy. Juveniles tend to position themselves in shallow water with all four feet on the bottom and wait until potential prey comes within striking distance of the jaws. The movement of prey is detected by the enlarged sensory pits along the sides of the jaw. The most common strategy of larger crocodiles involves an underwater approach to potential prey on the bank, in the water at the bank or in overhanging vegetation. Once a crocodile is attracted by the movement, sound and perhaps smell of potential prey, it will orient its head towards the prey, submerge (usually without a ripple), and swim underwater until it reaches the immediate vicinity of the prey. Then as the head silently emerges, if the prey is within striking distance, it will lunge with the jaws opening then slamming shut. A crocodile can lunge more than half its body length into the air or out on the bank. Once caught, small prey is usually crushed and swallowed. Larger prey is squeezed tightly until all movement stops. The largest prey evokes the full attack sequence. Once the crocodile has a grip, it will roll to throw the prey off balance so it can be dragged into deeper water and drowned. Because the stomach of the crocodile is small relative to the size of some prey taken, head shaking, thrashing and rolling is used to dismember large prey into smaller pieces for eating. A unique feature of crocodiles is their ability to maintain strenuous activity for only short periods of time, after which they become totally exhausted. This can occur during the capture of prey, being captured or even fighting other crocodiles. This extreme exertion is carried out anaerobically (without oxygen), and must be followed by a period of rest so that the "oxygen debt" can be repaid. The result of anaerobic activity is a build up of lactic acid in the blood, making it acidic. Although crocodiles can withstand higher levels of blood acidity than other animals, sometimes it can prove fatal. This is why larger crocodiles, over 5m, often die during capture operations, if they are allowed to struggle excessively. there is no real emergency advice to give on a croc attack just a word of caution by being extremely vigilant and non-complacent when hunting in croc country, they seem to pop up where you least expect them!
DON'T BE THE NEXT STATISTIC!!!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e199/bear74/fishing/IMGP1994.jpg
read the signs!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e199/bear74/fishing/IMGP0135.jpg
they get big and cheeky!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e199/bear74/fishing/IMGP1900.jpg
don't forget they got legs too!!
BEAR
There are two kinds of crocodiles in Australia: the Estuarine, a saltwater crocodile and Johnsons, a freshwater crocodile, with the estuarine croc by far the most dangerous croc found in the world. the saltwater croc can grow as large as 7m+ and is by no means restricted to salt water often being found 100‘s of kilometres inland well within the freshwater swamps, billabongs and rivers where we as bow hunters so often venture in the pursuit of game. here’s some information that may well help you understand a bit about crocs to avoid it becoming an emergency situation or worse!
Crocodiles use a combination of active hunting and the more passive "sit and wait" strategy. Juveniles tend to position themselves in shallow water with all four feet on the bottom and wait until potential prey comes within striking distance of the jaws. The movement of prey is detected by the enlarged sensory pits along the sides of the jaw. The most common strategy of larger crocodiles involves an underwater approach to potential prey on the bank, in the water at the bank or in overhanging vegetation. Once a crocodile is attracted by the movement, sound and perhaps smell of potential prey, it will orient its head towards the prey, submerge (usually without a ripple), and swim underwater until it reaches the immediate vicinity of the prey. Then as the head silently emerges, if the prey is within striking distance, it will lunge with the jaws opening then slamming shut. A crocodile can lunge more than half its body length into the air or out on the bank. Once caught, small prey is usually crushed and swallowed. Larger prey is squeezed tightly until all movement stops. The largest prey evokes the full attack sequence. Once the crocodile has a grip, it will roll to throw the prey off balance so it can be dragged into deeper water and drowned. Because the stomach of the crocodile is small relative to the size of some prey taken, head shaking, thrashing and rolling is used to dismember large prey into smaller pieces for eating. A unique feature of crocodiles is their ability to maintain strenuous activity for only short periods of time, after which they become totally exhausted. This can occur during the capture of prey, being captured or even fighting other crocodiles. This extreme exertion is carried out anaerobically (without oxygen), and must be followed by a period of rest so that the "oxygen debt" can be repaid. The result of anaerobic activity is a build up of lactic acid in the blood, making it acidic. Although crocodiles can withstand higher levels of blood acidity than other animals, sometimes it can prove fatal. This is why larger crocodiles, over 5m, often die during capture operations, if they are allowed to struggle excessively. there is no real emergency advice to give on a croc attack just a word of caution by being extremely vigilant and non-complacent when hunting in croc country, they seem to pop up where you least expect them!
DON'T BE THE NEXT STATISTIC!!!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e199/bear74/fishing/IMGP1994.jpg
read the signs!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e199/bear74/fishing/IMGP0135.jpg
they get big and cheeky!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e199/bear74/fishing/IMGP1900.jpg
don't forget they got legs too!!
BEAR