THE VIRTUES OF SAVING CROCODILES

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Big, bad and important

*07 Aug 2006*

LORETTA ANN SOOSAYRAJ <features

 

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*They're far from cuddly, and they can really bite. Butherpetologist Dr

Brady Barr tells LORETTA ANN SOOSAYRAJ that humanity will gain by saving the

False Gharial, and other crocodile species, from extinction.

 

*

SOME two years ago, a man found a reptile in Indonesia — a large crocodilian

called the False Gharial Tomistoma schlegelii. Upon having such close

proximity with the long-snouted creature, he fell in love with the species

immediately.

 

At the same time, he saw the the draining of the wetlands and degradation of

the waterways, among the main threats facing the species. It made him decide

to fight to save this species.

 

The man was none other than National Geographic herpetologist Dr Brady Barr,

known for multiple episodes of close encounters with crocodiles and other

reptiles the world over.

 

Many reptiles fascinate him, but it is the False Gharial which has a special

place in Dr Barr's heart. He is a member of the Crocodile Specialist Group's

Tomistoma Task Force, which is dedicated to quantifying the status of the

species in the wild, identifying the threats to which it is exposed, and

promoting conservation actions. Dr Barr sees the task of raising awareness

for Tomistoma conservation as a personal mission.

 

" It is a spectacularly beautiful animal; we just cannot let it go extinct. "

 

Found in Indonesia and Malaysia, and possibly in Vietnam and Southern

Thailand, Tomistomas are mainly fish-eaters, but also consume shrimp, crabs,

frogs, snakes and small mammals. It is endangered, but very little is known

about this elusive species.

 

Tomistoma means " sharp mouth " , referring to the slender shape of the jaws.

Its preferred habitat is freshwater lakes, rivers and swamps. Captive

breeding of this species has brought limited success, with only a few

centres having successfully produced viable young.

 

Dr Barr was in Kuala Lumpur last week, reaching out to 500 Malaysian

schoolchildren at special sessions organised at Zoo Negara in collaboration

with Astro and National Geographic. With his characteristic humour and

easy-going manner, he shared with them his thrilling stories while on

highlighting the importance of conserving these oft-misunderstood animals.

He also emphasised that crocodiles were not meant to be kept as pets, and

discussed the special characteristics of his favourite species.

 

Dr Barr was excited to discover that the species was successfully bred in

Zoo Negara in 2003, a project conducted by then reptile curator Dr Abraham

Mathew and his team. Dr Abraham is now attached to the Department of

Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia.

 

There is much to be learnt from this species if it is to be saved, and every

snippet of information is crucial. " There is no easy quick-fix. It isn't

just about breeding these animals in captivity; they need a place to live.

And unless the problems of habitat loss are addressed, they don't have much

of a chance. "

 

Unfortunately, people are more inclined to want to save animals they find

cute and cuddly, like koalas; not the large, dangerous and intimidating

animals like crocodiles. This, says Dr Barr, must change, for crocodiles

play a critical role in maintaining the balance of our fragile ecosystems.

 

" Crocodiles are keystone species, " explains Dr Barr, " remove them, and the

whole 'building' collapses. They are important for so many reasons. For

instance, when they are young, they are an important food source for many

species of fish, birds, turtles and other crocodiles. When they become

adults, they are apex predators, with no natural predators. They ensure that

there isn't an explosion of rats, fish and snakes, and other species which

they feed on. By their feeding habits, they regulate populations. "

 

These are just some of the reasons why crocodiles need protecting. Among the

threats faced by the various crocodile species worldwide are loss and

degradation of habitat, and poaching.

 

" There are so many threatened and endangered species. It's a race against

time to save these species.If we don't do something now, we will just be

documenting their extinction. "

 

Conservation education is key to saving wildlife, says Dr Barr, a former

biology teacher. " Television is a great teacher too, as you can use so many

different approaches to delivering a particular message. "

 

Although a credentialled scientist with many a scientific accomplishment

behind him, he keeps hisdelivery style simple, using uncomplicated language.

" There just isn't any point using scientific mumbo-jumbo. I talk to the

viewers the same way I talk to my buddies in the field. "

 

Dr Barr is not a TV showman, capturing specimens for entertainment, there

are reasons for it. Hecaptures an animal only if there is a sound scientific

purpose for it, or if it must be relocated to a safer spot, in cases of

human-wildlife conflict.

 

He is the first to find, capture and study all the 23 known crocodilian

species, a feat unparalleled in the field of herpetology. His journey is

documented in Dangerous Encounters, which will air on the National

Geographic (Astro Channel 52) from Sept 4 to 8 at 6pm.

 

The last three on his " hit-list " : The Chinese Alligator Alligator sinensis,

the Philippine Crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis, and the Tomistoma — three

species precariously close to disappearing forever.

 

" Finding the Chinese Alligator was incredible. We found a wild nest, and

when I mimicked the calls of the mother alligator, the hatching babies

responded from within the nest. They thought I was mom! "

 

Looking at the newly-hatched alligators, it dawned on Dr Barr that he had

just witnessed a 30 per cent increase in the wild population of this

species, as they are fewer than a hundred left. " The Croc Gods were smiling

at me! " , he said.

 

But by far, capturing the Philippine Crocodile, the last of the 23, left an

indelible mark on this scientist.

 

" I was all alone, wading in a lake during a heavy thunderstorm. I just

happened to look down, and there it was, a hatchling just swimming by me. I

put my hands down, picked it up, and there I had it. I put it in my pocket

and took it to the rest of the crew.

 

" The sheer un-eventfulness of the moment struck me, and I thought it was

really fitting, for when I captured my very first croc, I was all by myself

too. It was a very emotional moment for me. Not bad for a poor fella from

Southern Indiana! "

 

After capturing the hatchling, Dr Barr considered waiting to see if he could

find the parents but decided against the gamble. " If they heard the little

one's distress call and came and dragged me under, no one would even know

that I had set a record! "

 

Getting all 23 was definitely not something Dr Barr set out to do initially.

" I always thought I'd be only chasing that dream. "

 

After all, some had been declared functionally extinct, many were critically

endangered, and some hadn't been seen for years. But things picked up. In

Cambodia, Dr Barr found the virtually extinct Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus

siamensis, the first scientist in 75 years to do so. " That's when I thought,

hmmm… maybe I'd be able to get them all.

 

" With the resources of National Geographic, and a lot of luck, in 15 years,

I managed to get all 23. "

 

Field researchers learn to expect the unexpected when conducting research in

the field. When he was studying the dietary habits of the alligators in the

Everglades National Park in Florida, United States of America, he recalls a

surprising incident. " Alligators swallow their prey whole without chewing.

Once, when I was flushing the stomach of one to check its content, out came

a 'live' otter, spitting up water! He looked at me, and took off. That was

one lucky otter! "

 

Dr Barr has experienced some close calls over the years, but none so serious

that they have left anydeep marks on him. " There are always dangers, and you

can never be too careful; you're on a boat at night, dragging a rope through

the water, chances of getting tangled up with an angry crocodile are always

there.

 

" But like the biologist Edward O. Wilson once wrote, 'In a deeply tribal

way, we love our monsters.' He was absolutely right … I know I do! "