Synthesizing Nile crocodile<i>Crocodylus niloticus</i>attack data and historical context to inform mitigation efforts in South Africa and eSwatini (Swaziland)

Pooley, Simon; Botha, Hannes; Combrink, Xander; Powell, George

doi:10.1017/s0030605318001102

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In South Africa and Eswatini, nearly half of all attacks occurred on weekends and holidays, suggesting that human activity patterns are important. In further support of this, data collected from our study area in southern Africa suggest that Nile crocodile attacks occur most often during activities such as crossing rivers, doing domestic chores, fishing and swimming (Pooley et al, 2019), and similar observations have been made in Zambia (Wallace et al, 2011). This hypothesis is clearly applicable to temperature-dependent activities, such as swimming, but is less so for river crossing and domestic chores, which occur year-round (although they may differ in duration and method at different temperatures).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Using environmental niche modelling to investigate abiotic predictors of crocodilian attacks on people

Powell

Versluys

Williams

et al. 2020

Oryx

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Crocodilians are distributed widely through the tropics and subtropics, and several species pose a substantial threat to human life. This has important implications for human safety and crocodilian conservation. Understanding the drivers of crocodilian attacks on people could help minimize future attacks and inform conflict management. Crocodilian attacks follow a seasonal pattern in many regions, but there has been limited analysis of the relationship between attack occurrence and fine-scale contemporaneous environmental conditions. We use methods from environmental niche modelling to explore the relationships between attacks on people and abiotic predictors at a daily temporal resolution for the Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus in South Africa and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and the American alligator Alligator mississippiensis in Florida, USA. Our results indicate that ambient daily temperature is the most important abiotic temporal predictor of attack occurrence for both species, with attack likelihood increasing markedly when mean daily temperatures exceed 18 °C and peaking at 28 °C. It is likely that this relationship is explained partially by human propensity to spend time in and around water in warmer weather but also by the effect of temperature on crocodilian hunting behaviour and physiology, especially the ability to digest food. We discuss the potential of our findings to contribute to the management of crocodilians, with benefits for both human safety and conservation, and the application of environmental niche modelling for understanding human–wildlife conflicts involving both ectotherms and endotherms.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Using environmental niche modelling to investigate abiotic predictors of crocodilian attacks on people

Powell

Versluys

Williams

et al. 2020

Oryx

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The fatality rate of alligator bite incidents in Florida was 5.9%, whereas for saltwater crocodiles in Northern Territory, Australia, it was 28.6% (Fukuda et al ). In South Africa, the fatality rate for reported attacks by Nile crocodiles approached 50%, but many incidents there with minor injuries were likely not reported (Pooley ). Thus, bites by American alligators in Florida have been much less deadly than saltwater and Nile crocodile bites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of American alligator bites on people in Florida

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Human–American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) conflict in Florida, USA, has increased since the early 1970s, along with the recovery of the American alligator population. To better understand factors contributing to the risk of people being bitten by free‐ranging alligators in Florida, we evaluated the trend of alligator bites during 1971–2014 and examined characteristics associated with bites on people documented during 1948–2014. We classified 372 bites as either unprovoked or unintentionally provoked and used these in further analyses. Major injuries to victims occurred in 247 bite incidents. The estimated annual number of bites resulting in major injury to the victim increased from 3.5 to 7.0 during 1971–2014. The number of bites per Florida resident did not show a significant trend during 1971–2014. No significant change occurred in the frequency of fatal attacks during 1971–2014. Monthly frequency of bites was positively correlated with both mean maximum and mean minimum air temperatures but was not significantly correlated with testosterone concentration in adult male alligators, suggesting that bites are more likely related to feeding rates associated with seasonal fluctuations in ambient temperature than to aggression by male alligators during the breeding season. A high percentage of bites (41.8%) occurred in unnamed water bodies, which were generally small or man‐made. Most (93.7%) victims were Florida residents, and 58.7% resided close to the incident site. Victims were predominantly male (81.4%), and adults were more frequently victims than were adolescents or children. Most victims (93.9%) were in the water or near the shore when bitten. Victims were more likely to sustain major injuries if the bite occurred in deeper water. Male alligators were more frequently (76.9%) responsible for bites. We found only 1 instance in which a bite was associated with defense of eggs or young by an adult female alligator. Evidence of people feeding alligators before the bite was documented in 34.7% of bite incidents. Twenty‐two fatalities were attributed to alligator attacks, but we could not discern a pattern in the ages of victims. Alligators responsible for severe or fatal bites were predominantly in good condition with few deformities or injuries. Most alligator bites in Florida appeared to be attempts at feeding, although 36.8% of incidents entailed a single bite followed by immediate release, suggesting that alligators were unsure about their prey or were biting in defense. The risk of alligator bites can be reduced by educating people likely to interact with alligators and by selectively removing problem alligators in human residential areas and water bodies used regularly by people for swimming, wading, and shoreline activities. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

show abstract

“…My research trajectory began with building a long-term database of crocodile attacks in South Africa and eSwatini, to look for patterns and causal links emerging from the aggregated data (Pooley et al, 2019 ). While doing so I read media stories written at the time of the attacks, and became very aware of the traumatic nature of such attacks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The challenge of compassion in predator conservation

Pooley

2022

Front. Psychol.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper argues that compassion for wild animals and the humans living alongside them should be integral to wildlife conservation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in predator conservation, and case studies are used to explore the consequences of wild animal attacks for human victims. Some arguments for extending compassionate consideration to animals seen as individuals are considered, along with the challenges these pose for predator conservation. A way forward from this apparent impasse is suggested, drawing on the capacity approach to embrace human with animal actors. The paper concludes with implications for predator conservation and recommendations, including incident responses sensitive to the traumatic impacts of attacks, and more collaborative approaches to handling human-wildlife interactions taking account of the capacities of local humans and wildlife.

show abstract

Synthesizing Nile crocodileCrocodylus niloticusattack data and historical context to inform mitigation efforts in South Africa and eSwatini (Swaziland)

Cited by 16 publications

References 24 publications

Using environmental niche modelling to investigate abiotic predictors of crocodilian attacks on people

Using environmental niche modelling to investigate abiotic predictors of crocodilian attacks on people

Characteristics of American alligator bites on people in Florida

The challenge of compassion in predator conservation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About