AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Shame on Ambergris Today newspaper!

i think you make a good point. alot of the board is freaking over the croc thing. i have passed by but have never stopped and dont want to.

i have been to the blue hole twice. the first time i ever went we were over 100 ft deep when the dive master signaled it was time to surface. my partner tapped me and pointed up, as i looked up there was a swarm of sharks circling above us, brought up by the deck hands chumming the water. honestly it was one of the coolest moments i have had in diving, but those first few seconds.....pretty scary as you start to figure out you have to go through THAT to get to the surface. we settled on the rim of the hole at 30 ft and watched as the sharks circled looking to pick off fish from the boat. there were lemon, grey reef, and bulls among them.

my question is, how is that not atleast as dangerous as the croc feed? i chose to take the trip to the hole, i didnt even know they were going to do that with the sharks, still it was fun and i went back a second time, honestly, looking for the same thrill. i have been in the water several times with sharks, understanding the whole way, i was putting myself in that position. that is a practice that is routinely accepted but for some reason, putting your self in that position with the croc is lunacy. to me the risk is the same. you have to know if you get off that cart, its on you when something goes wrong. claiming ignorance after the fact is not going to hold water.

im not looking to pick a fight, i really would just like to have someone explain the thought process in that.

fish

OK, Simon: Lets go to the next step trying to follow the logic. If the crocks are endangered I can see a law prohibiting killing them. But feeding them would seem to be in their best interest if they are endangered. And, if sitting on the back of a crock is mollesting it, I am sure the crock could defend itself without the help of legislation.

Just curious as to peoples reasoning for laws.

I question the reasoning for this law and certainly do not believe there should be a call for legal punishment for the action in question.

I'll try and keep it short.

When Crocodiles (or many other wild animals) are fed by humans it causes a change in their natural behaviours. One area of concern is migration of additional animals into an area that traditionally only supports a limited number due to the availability of food. Crocs are territorial and generally setup their territories based on the available food supply. The more food, the more the area can support without conflict. When food supply is diminished territorial disputes occur with the smaller, weaker and oldest of animals being pushed out of the area first to find new food sources.

What is already happening in the lagoon is that, thanks to the readily available food supply, more Crocs are moving into the area as the territory of the original Croc's diminishes; as they don't have to defend the territory as vigorously. This will have a spiraling effect as other Croc's move in to fill the territorial void created by the migration to the food source. At some point in time though a critical mass will occur where the feeding situation created by humans will not be able to support the population. At that time there will be territorial conflicts and the Croc's will become more aggressive in their feeding behaviour.

Unfortunately we have already reached a point where stopping the feeding is going to have a negative impact. The Croc's at the lagoon will now have to migrate to find food sources. Due to their desensitization to humans and the association with humans providing food this will cause significant problems. Croc's that have been fed and desensitized will have no fear of moving into local residential areas on the lookout for easy meals (read small animals and possibly unwary children.)

When this happens, guess what's next. The only solution will be to kill off the Croc's in the lagoon that have been fed and desensitized. That is why the laws are in place to prevent direct interaction between humans and protected species.

A couple of citations regarding feeding programs:

http://www.thylazine.org/gallery/jumpcroc/

"Many of the crocodiles seen from the cruise had missing limbs. This is due to the abundance of domesticated food provided to the animals. The result of these daily feedings is that the section of river where the cruise takes place becomes overcrowded and crocodiles start to predate on each other."

http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/fieldcourses01/MarineEcologyArticles/Draft2.AlligatorsoftheEve.html

"Florida law prohibits feeding of wild gators, as most fatal attacks on humans have occurred when gators have been fed by humans or are protecting their nests."

Jahunit
.Thank you for your very thought out comments !! But since you you a flair with the words ,And I do not ,I will try to Respond As best I can ?? #1 first you spelling is worst then mine..#2 I have no idea what a bar girl is I think know ? While I do have some wonderful female friends they do not work in a bar???.#3 Now listen to this Moron in the last five years I have personally donated over 40,000 dollars to the island charities ,schools,lions club ,and most important people in need Oh by the way all belizean !!!!And all from Sanpedro !!!! #4 All who know me, know how I got the name, capt jeff ,it was from my business it was a trade name and I have used it for the last 20 yers and use it here as a goof I like ,it it is me..#5 Yes you are right I do not know the sea or the reefs here ,why would I,I am a gringo??? who loves to fish . But I do hire and use only local captains who are wonderful and more important good friends and thus a win /win ,spendindg lots of money here to support there familes it is a good thing As come almost once a month not only in tourist season . #6 My comments where that I think someone will get killed like a local young kid who thinks this is cool feeding crocs , thinking he will make a few dollars in tips!! A shame as does know not shit from shinola about life yet and this will be a sad day for all of Sanpedro!!! #7 And last but not least I have lost 50lbs yes thats right 50 lbs so far, so do not call me fat ,call me starting to looking good ???Oh If you have Any balls which I do not think you have ,do not stand behind that phony name tell us who you are !!!!! I thik you will not!!! have a good day and watch your fingers.

I'm glad I do not log on in the evenings and missed all the childish rants. Were the words poopoo head or caca face used?

The reason I started this post was actually not to debate the croc feeding. It was not to tell people they are stupid. I just wanted to point out that a responsible newspaper should NEVER promote an illegal activity as a positive thing. End of story.

Thanks, Simon: I will look forward to your comments.
Let me make my points clear. Yes, I think the newspaper printed an inappropriate article. No, I do not think sitting on the back of a crock is reason for criminal punishment. Yes, I think it is stupid. No, I do not think laws are necessary to replace personal responsibility. Yes, I think laws are appropriate to protect people from other people's irresponsibility. No, I do not think feeding or sitting on the back of a crock is molesting or harming it as it is very capable of stopping that on its own without the help of legislation.
And, if one advocates such legislation, which I do not, it should be applied equally to activities of similar danger, if danger is the logic, or to molesting of any wild animal, if that is the logic - not just to activities that one does not participate in or enjoy themselves.
I have no objection to protecting endangered animals from killing or harm that could cause their extinction.
I have yet to read a report on a crock dying from a pretty lady sitting on its back.

It would kill me.

When someone repeatedly feeds chicken to a croc, its pea size brain starts associating people with food. That's the problem, and it is beyond legal or illegal, stupid or not stupid.
We should leave them alone, or have the smart people from Belize Zoo be consultants on how to create a lagoon croc zoo under controlled management and let the kids sell "I met the croc" t-shirts, souvenirs and ice cream instead of risking their own and others' limbs on an every day basis.

Posted my comments above.

OK, but then what about chuming for sharks in the Blue Hole?

I am against selective legislation. Niether should be illegal.
Education before legislation.

That comment was for weile. Simon your points on interaction with wild animals are very valid. But, I still feel it is more of an educational issue than a legal issue.