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AMER. CROCODILE.
Term Paper ID:23527
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Essay Subject:
Nature, history, reduction of population & endangerment of animal by hunters & developers.... More...
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6 Pages / 1350 Words
4 sources, 22 Citations,
MLA Format
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Paper Abstract:
Nature, history, reduction of population & endangerment of animal by hunters & developers.
Paper Introduction:
Protecting the American Crocodile
This paper will focus on the American crocodile. The discussion will show that the American crocodile needs to be protected. Moreover, the paper will point out some of the reasons why the American crocodile needs protecting.
The American crocodile is a unique species which differs from its foreign relatives, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), the Australian crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni), the South American Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger), and the Indo-Pacific crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Unfortunately, crocodiles outside of the United States are responsible for nearly 3,000 human mutilations yearly (Alderton 22). Theses deaths, coupled with the prominent position that crocodiles maintain in the
Text of the Paper:
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The Indians placed bait in an "S"-shapedbend at the far end of the trap. NewYork: St. Like the South American crocodile (Crocodylusintermedius), the American crocodile is clearly not a particularlyaggressive species. Since adultcrocodiles are "much less susceptible to the effects of salt water, it maybe that juveniles grow very rapidly to overcome their disadvantage in thatrespect" (Alderton 15 ). The bullets from firearms could quickly penetrate theprotective casing of the crocodile's body, and crocodiles soon became "apopular target for big-game hunters, seeking trophies of their travels"(Alderton 33). However, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) isactually a much tamer reptile than either the Nile or Indo-Pacificcrocodile. Other reports estimate thatat least two and one-half million hides were taken in the United States.By 1943, when only 6,8 skins were available to American manufacturers,the species clearly needed to be protected (Alderton 34). Adult Americancrocodiles are more able to survive in salt water than their hatchlings,which need access to fresh water. The American crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus) is the most widelydistributed species of the four crocodiles present in the New World. Althoughstate and federal laws have been enacted to protect the American alligator,and some local "farms" have helped the species recover in a minor way, theAmerican alligator still remains on the endangered species list (Cox 54). Enforcement of the Act isachieved by "a series of controls, including licenses and tags, backed byannual monitoring of the alligator population" in each state (Alderton 36). The American crocodile rarely resorts to taking humanprey, and very few deaths from crocodiles have been documented in America(Alderton 3 ). Researchers speculatethat, with less fresh water entering the Florida Bay because of "changes indrainage patterns, the increased salinity may not be tolerated well byyoung hatchlings, and this might be a cause of early mortality" (Alderton15 ). Asmall population exists in the Florida Keys and Everglades, with theremainder of the population living in South American countries like Belize,Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The discussion willshow that the American crocodile needs to be protected. New York: Rutledge, 1975.Curry-Lindhahl. And, like theAmerican alligator, widespread poaching of the crocodile continues tohamper its survival. Works CitedAlderton, David. In some areas, thetrading of skins actually began to threaten the survival of entirepopulations of the American crocodile in numerous states. A Social History of the American Alligator. The crocodilewas later taken to Ross Allen's famous Reptile Institute, where it diedmany years later in a fight with a big alligator housed in a neighboringenclosure, at age 65. While some of the speciescan range up to 21 feet in length, today crocodiles found in rarely Americaexceed 13 feet (Alderton 145-146). Therefore, in 1944, a ban was put on killing the animals during thebreeding season, and hunters were not allowed to kill animals that wereless than four feet long. The Americanalligator can also be potentially dangerous (Alderton 29). Their offspring are lighter in color. Unless the poachers can be stopped, experts considerthe outlook for both the endangered American alligator and the Americancrocodile bleak (Cox 54). However, the killing ofcrocodiles by Indians never amounted to numbers large enough to threatenextinction. New York: William Morrow, 1972.Glasglow, Vaughn, L. This reptile residentof the southeastern swamps in the United States has been huntedunmercifully for its skin, especially the soft hide from the underside.For this reason, the 2 -foot giants of yesteryear are no longer foundwithin the United States, and even 1 foot animals are rare. Let Them Live: A Worldwide Survey of AnimalsThreatened with Extinction. While counting the exact number of animalsremaining in Florida is somewhat difficult because the species tends todisperse during the times they are not breeding, studies estimate that only25 females bear young in Florida each year (Alderton 15 ). Moreover, thepaper will point out some of the reasons why the American crocodile needsprotecting. Oil drilling crews are now exploring theEverglades (Curry-Lindahl 196), and, if more drilling is permitted, itcould continue to destroy the water supply which the American crocodileneeds to survive. Martin's, 1991.Cindy: This (Lipp) paper due today at 3: . Terri Their offspring cannot survive in salt water; therefore, theAmerican crocodile is absent from many islands near Florida, like theBahamas. Crocodiles need fresh water, such asrainfall, to maintain their fluid balance (Alderton 147). Only a few other attacks by the American crocodile have beendocumented, and they occurred in very rural areas where women and childrenwere washing in rivers. Ineach of the Florida attacks, the alligators mistook humans for their normalprey and lost interest once their intended victims fought back (Alderton 28-29). Thus, between the19th and 2 th centuries, the American crocodile became very scarce in majorAmerican waterways. In 1961, the hunting of alligators in Floridawas made illegal. Adult American crocodiles are olive-brown in color, with dark bandingall over their bodies and tail. The problem of extinction was exacerbated by the growing trade inalligator and crocodile skins in the United States. The American alligator's real problems arrived during the 19thcentury, when powerful firearms were brought into the United States byEuropean settlers. Finally, in 1973, thefederal Endangered Species Act provided the much-needed mandatoryprotection throughout the United States for both the American crocodile andthe American alligator (Alderton 34-35). Crocodiles and Alligators of the World. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is far less common thanthe American alligator and therefore more endangered. London:Blanford, 1991.Cox, James A. Additionally, since 193 , a "noticeable reduction in the breedingrange" of the species has occurred (Alderton 15 ). The Seminoles used two thick branches, which they set in shallowwaters where crocodiles gathered. The skins were used asleather for footwear, handbags, belts, and suitcases. However, one of the surveyor's assistants kicked the reptile, whichrevived it. CITES' efforts, together with field studiesand on-going crocodile ranch breeding and farming projects, coupled withthe American federal trade ban on endangered species in the United States,has helped stabilize the crocodile population (Alderton 42-43). The fight to protectthe crocodiles natural habitat in the Florida was set back in the late196 s, when local interests built "a jet airport including a pilot-trainingstrip" on the edge of the Everglades, threatening the existence of manycrocodiles who depended on the natural draining and filling of Big CypressSwamp (Curry-Lindahl 195-196). Crocodiles were first hunted in North America by the SeminoleIndians. Then, in 1969, a federal amendment to the Lacey Actprevented hides from being moved across state lines. Therefore, another reason that crocodiles are dying in America isthat they are losing access to their natural habitat. Protecting the American Crocodile This paper will focus on the American crocodile. Manyuntruths were spread about the American alligator and crocodile byuntrained field observers in the early 188 s who confused the species withthe more aggressive Nile crocodile (Glasgow 23). The crocodile then swung its tail around, knocked theassistant to the ground, and then killed him (Alderton 3 ). In addition, the founding of the Convention of International Trade inEndangered Species (CITES) in 1973 has encouraged a system of quotecontrols on wild crocodiles. The Endangered Ones. Although one newbreeding site for crocodiles has been located within the cooling canalsystem of the Florida Power and Light Company's plant just south of Miamiat Turkey Point, the overall crocodile population in Florida still probablydoes not exceed 5 animals. Thus, the American alligator is relatively placid, yet suffers fromthe bad reputation of other species of crocodiles. Thespecies usually lives in brackish and freshwater coastal localities.American crocodiles often live in mangrove swamps in Florida, which offer asecure habitat and peat banks, where they make their nests. Unfortunately for the American species, by the turn of thecentury, shooting crocodiles and alligators from the river boats thattraveled the major American rivers became fashionable. Crocodiles have difficulty surviving in America without access tofresh water. And, in spite of protection in Florida, the number of crocodilesthere has not risen greatly during recent years. One incidentinvolving the American crocodile occurred in 1925 in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Someone has to fax it to theclient.Supposed to be real simple, basic, not too complex. Unfortunately, crocodiles outside of the United States areresponsible for nearly 3, human mutilations yearly (Alderton 22).Theses deaths, coupled with the prominent position that crocodiles maintainin the folklore of many cultures and their predatory nature, have ledpeople to believe that the American alligator is extremely dangerous. Once a crocodile entered the narrow bendto take the bait, it could not back out. In that case, a land surveyor shot a crocodile and thought the animaldead. For example, between 1941 and 1978, fewer than 1 unprovokedalligator attacks occurred in Florida, and no fatalities were recorded. One studyindicated that, in the 186 s, about three million alligators and crocodilesliving in Florida alone (Curry-Lindahl 2 ). The American crocodile is a unique species which differs from itsforeign relatives, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), theAustralian crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni), the South American BlackCaiman (Melanosuchus niger), and the Indo-Pacific crocodile (Crocodylusniloticus).
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