Wednesday, July 22, 2015

The Crocodile Hunter were watched as kids


The Crocodile Hunter was one of those amazingly fun programs we all watched as kids. While the animals featured were fascinating all on their own - being super dangerous and all - what really made it special were the antics of Steve Irwin, the Croc Hunter himself. Putting himself casually into situations that would scare the pants off most people, he'd treat the world's most dangerous animals like friends he'd met at the bar, all while teaching us about their lives with a glint in his eye and a cheeky grin.

An incredibly successful show spanning eight seasons, The Crocodile Hunterwas tragically cut short when Steve Irwin was killed while filming an upcoming documentary, Ocean's Deadliest, with a stingray, leaving behind his family, comprised of his wife Terri, their son Robert, and their daughter Bindi.

Recovering from such a tragic loss is never easy, so it's amazing to hear that their daughter Bindi has not only grown quite a bit, but has also begun actively pursuing a career as a zoologist. Crikey, Steve would be proud!

Bindi is now 16 years old and on her way to following in her father's footsteps
Bindi with a baby croc.

Taking after her father in both looks and aspirations, she's already made her place in the animal kingdom, expressing a strong desire to work full time at Australia Zoo after finishing her final year of Business and Tourism school.

“When [Irwin] was working with venomous snakes or cheetahs, he just treated them in a [certain] way. It was never trying to overpower them or anything like that. He was just loving them. And he was teaching other people about how beautiful they are. Telling people how to respect snakes and respect crocodiles and to love them. And I think if you go about it with that kind of attitude, it’s brilliant.”

She was in contact with dangerous animals from the very beginning
Baby Bindi with her father, mother, and huge snake.

Baby Bindi with her father, mother, and huge snake.

From an early age, Bindi was involved in the Crocodile Hunter lifestyle, interacting with dangerous animals on the regular. She said:

“I have spent my entire life living in a zoo, which is pretty crazy. Not many kids get to say that.”

She even starred in a wildlife documentary,Bindi the Jungle Girl
A clip of Bindi in Bindi the Jungle Girl

A clip of Bindi in Bindi the Jungle Girl

Now at 16-years-old, she has a vibrant Instagram account where she posts shots of her loving the animals, just as her father taught her.

It's heartwarming to see that Bindi has grown into such a charming and ambitious young woman; and the fact that she shares her father's passion and respect for creatures great and small, no matter how dangerous, is truly inspirational. Good for you, Bindi!

Steve and Bindi Irwin, and croc.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Crocodile breeding in El Salvador

EL SALVADOR - Crocodiles are considered to be endangered in El Salvador, and some locals of the Barra de Santiago make efforts to preserve the species.
The baby crocodiles are bred and then released on the banks of a stream protected by authorities.
10-day-old crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) at a small farm in Barra de Santiago, 110km south-west of San Salvador, El Salvador on June 23, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
A man holding a 10-day-old crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). PHOTO: AFP
A man holding a 10-day-old crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). PHOTO: AFP
A man feeding a 10-day-old crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). PHOTO: AFP
Jose Villeda holding two 10-day-old crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus). PHOTO: AFP
A baby crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) being released on the banks of a stream protected by authorities in Barra de Santiago. PHOTO: AFP
A baby crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) being released on the banks of a stream. PHOTO: AFP
A baby crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) being released on the banks of a stream. PHOTO: AFP

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Tourist bitten by crocodile


A tourist suffered facial injuries after being attacked by a crocodile while swimming in
A TOURIST bitten on the face by a crocodile in WA’s Kimberley remains in a stable condition in hospital, four days after the attack.
The New South Wales tourist, aged in her 50s, was with her husband aboard the charter catamaran Discovery One when she was attacked during a swim at midday on Friday at what was thought to be a safe waterhole in the Prince Regent River region.
She was flown out on a charter plane and then taken to Broome Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and on Friday night she had several hours of facial surgery for minor bite injuries.
A hospital spokesman on Tuesday afternoon confirmed the woman was yet to be discharged and was still recovering.
The Discovery One vessel, owned by Kimberley Discovery Cruises. picture: File image
Kimberley Discovery Cruises operates the Discovery One vessel and spokeswoman Jill Moffitt said the victim was in good spirits and continuing recovering well.
She said the couple were even contemplating a return to the Kimberley in the future.
“Their first concern was that the other passengers can continue their cruise and aren’t too downcast about it all,” Ms Moffitt said.
“She had quite a long surgery and the surgeons took their time and did it very delicately because its her face of course.
“They’ve very pleased with the treatment ... and it looks like she will make a full recovery. They’re very philosophical about it. They realise these things can happen.
“They said they had a fabulous time up until (the attack). We’re talking to them about perhaps coming back again.
“It’s a wonderful place because it’s a real wilderness area and they were loving the experience.”
Ms Moffitt said she spoke to the captain after the attack and the 22 passengers were “very concerned” but also relieved the woman had escaped with minor injuries.
“I don’t know how big the crocodile was or how it actually happened or who jumped in but her husband asked me to thank the crew for everything they did,” she added.
Ms Moffitt said the waterhole was considered safe but a very high tide may have washed the crocodile into it.
“It’s a place where a lot of tour operators take people for a dip. It reinforces that this is a wilderness area and the crocodile’s domain,” she said.