Warnschilder machen auf die Gefahr durch Krokodile aufmerksam
Eine Deutsche Touristin, die in Australien von einem Krokodil getötet wurde, war offenbar zuvor knapp dem Bombenanschlag auf Bali entronnen Darwin/München - Im Fall der deutschen Studentin aus Tutzingen, die in Nordaustralien von einem Krokodil angegriffen und getötet wurde, sind neue tragische Einzelheiten bekannt geworden. Die junge Frau war der Süddeutschen Zeitung zufolge vor ihrem Urlaub in Australien knapp dem Anschlag auf Bali entkommen, bei dem am 12. Oktober 2002 fast 190 Menschen bei einer Explosion in zwei Diskotheken ums Leben kamen. Die 24-Jährige und ihre jüngere Schwester Valerie hätten nur eine Stunde vor der Bombendetonation den Sari-Tanzclub verlassen, schrieb die Zeitung. Nach dem Anschlag reisten die Architektur-Studentin nach Australien. Sie schwamm zusammen mit anderen Mitgliedern einer Reisegruppe in einem Fluss im Kakadu-Nationalpark. Dabei griff eine vier Meter langes Krokodil die 24-Jährige an, die daraufhin ums Lebenkam. Die Reisegruppe hatte deutliche Warnhinweise am Ufer des Flusses missachtet: "In dieser Gegend leben Krokodile. Bei einem Angriff können Sie verletzt oder getötet werden." Die gerichtsmedizinische Untersuchung der Leiche ergab mittlerweile, die junge Frau starb durch Ertrinken, nicht durch Bisse. Salzwasser-Krokodile töten ihre Beute nach Auskunft von Experten in der Regel, indem sie das Opfer unter Wasser drücken. Sie selbst können dabei bis zu einer Stunde lang den Atem anhalten. Mittlerweile hat die Schwester der getöteten Architekturstudentin Vorwürfe gegen den Reiseleiter der Gruppe erhoben. Der habe die jungen Leute lediglich über Süßwasser-Krokodile informiert, die für Menschen relativ ungefährlich seien, sagte der deutsche Honorarkonsul in Darwin, Harry Maschke, am Freitag der australischen Nachrichtenagentur AAP. Obwohl die Schilder vor Krokodilen warnten, habe der Reiseleiter außerdem versichert, daß in dem Fluss im Kakadu-Nationalpark auch Ureinwohner badeten, hieß es weiter. Er selbst sei nicht mitgeschwommen, als die 24-Jährige, ihre Schwester und sieben Mitreisenden am Dienstag das folgenschwere Bad nahmen. dpa/AP
So sieht ein von einem Krokodil gerissenes Rind aus (ein Biß)!
If you thought the legend of the horse whisperer was impressive, here's an animal tale with even more bite. Rather than trying to tame Wild stallions, fearless Costa Rican fisherman Chito prefers a playful wrestle in the water with his best pal Pocho - a deadly 17ft crocodile. The 52-year-old daredevil draws gasps of amazement from onlookers by wading chest-deep into the water, then whistling for his 980lb buddy - and giving him an affectionate hug.
Crazy Chito says: "Pocho is my best friend. This is a very dangerous routine but we have a good relationship. He will look me in the eye and not attack me. "It is too dangerous for anyone else to come in the water. It is only ever the two of us." Chito made friends with the croc after finding him with a gunshot wound on the banks of the Central American state's Parismina river 20 years ago. He had been shot in the left eye by a cattle farmer and was close to death. But Chito enlisted the help of several pals to load the massive reptile into his boat. He says: "When I found Pocho in the river he was dying, so I brought him into my house.
"He was very skinny, weighing only around 150lb I gave him chicken and fish and medicine for six months to help him recover. "I stayed by Pocho's side while he was ill, sleeping next to him at night. I just wanted him to feel that somebody loved him, that not all humans are bad. "It meant a lot of sacrifice. I had to be there every day. I love all animals - especially ones that have suffered." It took years before Chito felt that Pocho had bonded with him enough to get closer to the animal. He says: "After a decade I started to work with him. At first it was slow, slow. I played with him a bit, slowly doing more. "Then I found out that when I called his name he would come over to me."
At one point during his recovery, Chito left the croc in a lake near his house. But as he turned to walk away, to his amazement Pocho got out of the water and began to follow him home. Chito recalls: "That convinced me the crocodile could be tame." But when he first fearlessly waded into the water with the giant reptile his family was so horrified they couldn't bear to watch. So instead, he took to splashing around with Pocho when they were asleep. Four years ago Chito showed some of his tricks to friends, including getting the animal to close his eyes on command, and they convinced him to go public with a show. Now he swims and plays with Pocho as well as feeding him at the lake near his home in the lowland tropical town of Sarapiqui. The odd couple have now become a major tourist attraction, with several tour operators, including Crocodile Adventures, taking visitors on touring cruises to see the pair. On the Crocodile Adventures website it describes the spectacle as: "One of the most amazing things that no cruise ship passenger will want to miss, the adventure show between the man and the crocodile."
Clever croc ... Pocho answers to his name. American crocodiles, that inhabit North, Central and South America , can live to around 70 years old. It is estimated that Pocho is around 50 - almost the same age as his owner. They are also said to be less aggressive than their Nile or Australian counterparts. Chito, whose real name is Gilberto Shedden, was given hi nickname by friends, who also call him "Tarzan Tico" - Tico being a familiar word for a Costa Rican. And he certainly plays up to the name, wearing a tattered pair of leopard-print shorts for his half-hour performances with Pocho. A keen conservationist, he also offers boat tours, where he eagerly points out a variety of wildlife. But he only charges a few dollars to watch the breathtaking crocodile show, claiming he does not want to cash in on Pocho. He says: "He's my friend, I don't want to treat him like a slave or exploit him. "I am happy because I rescued him and he is happy with me because he has everything he needs."
Nick Caico, Mittwoch, 2. Dezember 2009 21:25
Lieber Lutz,
Manchmal gibt es Zufälle! Gestern Nachmittag bei Brunch erzählte mir ein Nachbar von dem amerikanischen Fotographen Peter BEARD und von seinem Bildband aus dem Jahr 1973 "EYELIDS OF MORNING" den er zusammen mit Alistar GRAHAM herausgebracht hatte.
Das eine Foto schein die Vorlage für Deinen Lacoste Schlafsackwitz gewesen zu sein.
Das andere Foto zeigt die übereste des amerikanischen Uni-Absolventen William K. Olsen, der es entgegen den Warnungen besser wusste und dort schwamm wo es auch Crocs gab! Das Croc, daß ihn tötete hat man dann einen Tag später erlegt, die übereste fand man dann im Magen.
Herzliche Grüße, Ulrich, Montag, 2. Juli 2012 06:59