Wildlife Tourism Expiration Date

On a recent media swing through You Tube we came across this eco tourism "gem". It's always important to keep a predators food source on top of your head when promoting wildlife tourism.

This particular operation is set to expire any day now:

Charismatic Megafauna-Anyone? Anyone?

It's kind of like a matra around here at U.T:

Charismatic Megafauna= Sustainable Tourism.

It's simple enough equation if you want to apply it to sharks, whales, or even these toothsome critters all you need is a good marketing department, some vision and some great critter encounters:

The newly-opened attraction, Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin, offers the chance to be lowered into a tank full of crocs, among them suspected man-eaters, wearing nothing more than a mask, snorkel and swimsuit or trunks.

The 'Cage of Death' is said to be "perfect for serious adrenalin junkies" who have perhaps become jaded with swimming with dolphins or cage diving among great white sharks.

The cage is hexagonal-shaped to stop the crocodiles from getting a grip on it with their fearsome teeth.It enables tourists to come within a few feet of several 'salties' measuring more than 16ft long, some of the largest in captivity in the world

Australia-Goonch This!

Australia is one dangerous place. With more critters out to kill you than any other place on the planet today's croc story was no real surprise. As our readers know-if it happens in Australia we cover it:

Aussies Flee "Terror Shark"-Cirque Cast Member Saves Beachgoers

Australia-Things that kill the things that will kill you

Shark vs Croc=Crikey, Great Shot!

Record Shark Taken-Eco Debate

"In my day he'd get a big boot up the arse.''

Sorry, we just could not help ourselves. Seems the old adage "Boys will be boys" went a little too far last week as a seven year old miscreant in Australia systematically fed other zoo critters to a 12 foot resident saltwater croc.

We happen to like the curators response to this horrific event and hope they opt for that solution- The Big Boot:

He also bludgeoned three lizards to death in their pens. Police cannot charge the boy because of his age the NT News reports. Security camera video footage clearly shows every move of the youngster's 35-minute rampage.

One CCTV image shows him with a big smile on his face as he watches the saltie splash around its pool as it attacks a northern blue tongue lizard.

The malicious foray happened at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre in broad daylight between about 8am and 8.30am on Wednesday. Centre director Rex Neindorf said the behaviour was "disgusting''.

"The fact a seven-year-old can wreak so much havoc in such a short time, let alone even think of doing something like this, is unbelievable. "If it was back in my day he'd get a big boot up the arse.''

Croc vs Leopard...Now THAT'S Interesting!

Our shark fans need us like their "morning latte" because of unbelievable stories like this one and you know we cannot pass on a story like this.

Yes, it's a bit far away from the world of sharks, but heck we covered a similar story Croc vs Shark a few months ago.

No, this is not the same croc and no, this did not happen in Australia...land of dangerous wildlife and the crazy people who live with them.

Australia-Things that kill the things that will kill you

We have blogged about it over and over and over again.

Australia is a dangerous country. If local critters are not out trying to kill you, they are out to sting, maim, or incapacitate you for consumption at a later date.

Case in point. Cane Toads are not just a recreational drug anymore, they will kill you. That's the latest finding in Australia (no surprise there) as hundreds of freshwater crocks have turned up dead, that's right, from Cane Toads.

Oh and by the way, Cane Toads were imported in 1935 into Australia because someone thought the country did not have enough crazy, dangerous wildlife to avoid at all costs.

Shark vs Croc=Crikey, Great Shot!

For wild animal photogs being at the right place at the right time in Australia is almost as easy as taking the lens cap off your camera.

Then again if you happen to be Paul Van Bruggan a certain amount of underwater thrill always helps. While traipsing through the woods the other day he happened upon this remarkable scene...and shark photo of the month:

"We looked across and saw a shark's tail coming up out of the water and then a crocodile's head came up and grabbed it." Mr van Bruggen said the crocodile knew exactly what it was doing, dragging the shark on to unfamiliar dry land before finishing off its prey.

Australia+Crocs+Bungee Jumping=Video

What do you get when you add an Aussie, a video camera, a world class bungee outfit and a 15 foot Saltwater Croc on an otherwise uneventful day over the Murrybundi River?

The answer is some amazing You Tube Video:




Of course if you believe everything on You Tube we can't help you.

Wildlife Moment-Surprise!

27-year-old Israeli tourist Novon Mashiah almost discovered the hard way how far you can push a saltwater croc in Australia.

"One minute I was leaning over the boat teasing it for a picture. The next minute it burst out of the water with incredible speed ... its jaws fully open. I was shaking,'' he said.

Now, one might say this is Darwinism at play here, or is this something else?

With the rapid explosion of wild animal encounter shows like the Croc Hunter and others is the public being shown a side of wildlife encounters that eventually lead to events like these?

Crikey-Croc Cage Diving!

So what's NOT to like about this latest South African attraction? It's got man eating Salties (crocs), strong looking cages, babes in bikini's, and best of all it yours for a mere $40 bucks.

Yes, now you too can join the good folks at Congo Ranch for a lifetime encounter with a big reptile:

"Daredevils who wish to attempt this adrenaline-pumping feat are slowly lowered into the heated crocodile pool along with 5 large Nile crocodiles and are protected from the predators by a specially designed cage. Guarded by the strong cage, the crocodiles swim around you sizing you up as a tasty snack."

Perhaps they could use a hand at the advertising. This is Africa after all where last we heard 99% of everything there will either kill you or leave you with chunks missing...but they make a tasty vino!