Crocodiles

Movement and Home Range of Nile Crocodiles in Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa

“…General findings indicate that crocodilians are capable of travelling farther than previously thought (Campos et al 2006;Combrink 2014;Combrink et al 2013;Read et al 2007;Swanepoel 1999), while home range size is strongly influenced by topography, reproductive status, season and size of individuals (Brien et al 2008). It is necessary to discuss the movement ecology of Nile crocodiles within this context and in comparison with movement studies conducted on other crocodilian species.…”

Accumulation of organochlorine pesticides in fat tissue of wild Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) from iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa

“…Lake St Lucia hosts the largest population with a minimum of 684 adult and sub-adult crocodiles, while Lake Sibaya (26), Kosi Bay (<10) and Nsumo pan (<10) are estimated to contain substantially lower numbers (EKZNW unpublished 2015 aerial survey data). Trend analysis based on aerial count data for the last decade indicates a decline in all four populations (EKZNW unpublished data 2015 aerial survey data) and is attributed largely to direct and incidental anthropogenic pressures, including illegal killings, fish-trap and gillnet mortalities, destructions of nesting sites and eggs, alien plant infestation at nesting sites, boat-collision mortalities, and severe droughts (Kyle, 1999;Leslie and Spotila, 2001;Combrink et al, 2011;Combrink et al, 2013, Warner et al, 2016a.…”

“…In many environments throughout the continent and particularly in SA, Nile crocodile populations are threatened by habitat destruction, illegal killings, destruction of nesting sites and human disturbance, and as a result, their conservation status is classified as Regionally Vulnerable for SA (Bates et al, 2014). Lake St Lucia, situated within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, represents the largest Nile crocodile population within a single waterbody in SA and hosts the most southern viable breeding population of the species (Combrink et al, 2013). The park hosts one of only a few remaining viable breeding populations in the country and is also the largest estuarine population in Africa (Combrink et al, 2013).…”

“…Lake St Lucia, situated within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, represents the largest Nile crocodile population within a single waterbody in SA and hosts the most southern viable breeding population of the species (Combrink et al, 2013). The park hosts one of only a few remaining viable breeding populations in the country and is also the largest estuarine population in Africa (Combrink et al, 2013). Crocodiles inhabiting this area have been subjected to OCP exposure since the mid-1940s (Quinn et al, 2011) and the potential impact on their physiology and long-term health is thus of concern.…”