Simon Pooley (Birbek University of London) has produced two posters entitled "Don't get eaten by a croc", that aim to raise awareness in locals (especially children) and visitors to areas of South Africa, Swaziland and India (Gujarat), where humans live alongside crocodiles and where attacks have occurred. The posters are large format and colourful, with an eye-catching illustration by Chloe Townsend. Concise top tips on avoiding being attacked are offered in colourful circles. A map shows where attacks have occurred, based on long-term data collated by Simon Pooley (South Africa, Swaziland) and Anirudh Vasava (Voluntary Nature Conservancy; Gujarat). Text includes summaries of attack data and details on who to contact in cases of "problem" crocodiles, and each poster has an infographic further summarising attack data by activity and demographic profile of victims.
The printed posters are being distributed free in northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa, in Swaziland, and in Gujarat. They are available together with further information (in Pooley's book "Don't Get Eaten by a Crocodile" in South Africa or Swaziland) and a quiz is available on request, for outreach work. Both posters were funded by the Lambert Bequest, which Funds Simon's lectureship at Birbeck University of London. An additional poster is being developed for Botswana, with Vince Shacks.
----------------------------------------------------
In January 2018, "
Muggers of Vadodara" (42 pp) by Raju Vyas was formally released at the concluding session of the
5th Charotar Crocodile Count. The book covers the urban Muggers (
Crocodylus palustris) of Vadodara City, Gujarat State, India, which share their existence with people. Written for a general audience, it is a remarkable story, and provides real and practical advice on how to avoid conflict with Muggers. Supported and published by the Voluntary Conservation Conservancy (VNC), "Muggers of Vadodara" is currently only available in India (Rs 50/- at VNC office, Rs 100/- elsewhere in India; contact info@vncindia.org for details). A price structure for overseas destinations will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
----------------------------------------------------
The
25th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group (
Thirty Years Later .... a Problem becomes a Livelihood), will be held in Santa Fe, Argentina, on 7-10 May 2018. Details are now available on the meeting website (
https://www.25wmcsgsantafe.com), including a Veterinary Workshop (5 May), CSG Steering Committee meeting (6 May), Working Meeting (7-10 May) and field trip (11 May). Registration is now open.