American Crocodile

Species: American Crocodile  
Habitat: Coastal, Swamps, Mangroves
Status: Vulnerable
DAK Locale: Dinoland

The American Crocodile is found throughout South America, the Caribbean and north into southern Florida, where it is often confused with the more populous (at least in Florida) alligator. At first glance, they appear quite similar and are indeed closely related. The alligator's snout is wider and the teeth from the lower jaw cannot be seen when the mouth is closed. Of course, most people don't want to get close enough to find that out. To that end, the crocodile is more likely to attack humans that its gator cousin. There are other differences, as well. Alligators are much better suited to the cold and if you see a crocodilian in Orlando its likely a gator.

Crocodiles, however, due much better in saltwater. It is this ability to adapt to the salinity of the water that has allowed the American Crocodile to colonize much larger areas than the alligator. They are found throughout the Caribbean with large populations in Cuba and Jamaica. They found across Mexico and Central America into the Pacific coastal areas. They are also found along the northern portions of South America. The crocodile also grows at a faster rate with some animals surpassing 20 feet in length.

Crocodilians as a whole are advanced for a reptile. For starters, they have four chambered hearts. They are also one of the few kinds of reptiles that care for its young. Mothers build nests and then protect them from predators such as snakes and raccoons. Even after the young are born, the mother stays close by the protect her babies, which is unheard of in other kinds of reptiles. The nests are elaborately built by the mothers to keep the eggs warm and protected. After birth, the mother will carry its babies in its mouth to the water so her young can hunt. She will stay close by the protect them for weeks, answering distress calls with ferocity.

The American Crocodile is endangered in parts of its range, but generally, it is making a comeback. In the United States, in 2007, the species was downgraded from endangered to threatened. Still, it is illegal to harass or hunt the animal under its current classification. Historically, the animal was hunted for its hide as well as meat, and in certain areas it has felt the loss of its habitat.

to contact Safari Mike use Twitter: @JamboEveryone

Yeti

Species: Yeti
Habitat: Mountains/Valleys of Nepal & Tibet
Status: Presumed Endangered
DAK Location: Expedition: Everest

The Yeti, often referred to in folklore and stories as the abominable snowman, can be found in the mountainous valleys of Nepal and Tibet. The animal’s name comes from a tibetan word, yeh-teh, meaning “rock bear.” Despite the name, the yeti is not related to the bear but is instead a primate. In fact, it is the largest primate, outweighing a male silverback by 50%. Also, unlike other primates except man, it walks upright.

We know very little about this elusive creature as it lives in one of the most remote, least populated regions of the planet. It was years before the first westerner actually saw one. Similar to the mountain gorilla and okapi of the Congo, western science presumed the creature to be myth even though the local populace was well aware of its existence. One of the first westerners to see evidence of the animal was Lt. Col. Charles Howard-Bay in a trek to the region sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society. He saw only the tracks of the yeti. As thrill seekers from abroad continued to visit the area’s impressive mountains, more tracks were spotted. In 1953, Sir Edmond Hillary spotted footprints while climbing Everest. Shortly thereafter, another trip sponsored by the RGS actually spotted the creature at about 15,000 feet. The imposing mountains continue to draw climbers and visitors, but encounters still are rare.

The reasons for the rarity of these encounters stems from fact that the creature is rare in number and lives exclusively in a remote area. The population is limited by the amount of food in its local habitat. As is typical in many primates, the creatures have large canines for demonstration purposes. They are mostly vegetarians but will occasionally eat carrion or small animals. To date, there have been no substantiated attacks on humans although there have been reports of the creature destroying property.

The primates generally live in the dense valley vegetation. When visual encounters do occur, the creature is usually attempting to cross mountain passages to get to the next valley. Still, the animal is often not seen. One defense mechanism of the creature is to crouch down and remain perfectly still. To snow leopards and mountain climbers, the yeti will look exactly like a large rock in the distance. There are many local tales of people walking along a mountain pass only to see a “boulder” leap up and run away.

As one would suspect, the yeti plays a key role in the mythology of the region. In some local cultures, the yeti is believed to be the ghost of someone who has recently died. Other cultures see the yeti as a demon who guards the mountains from trespassers. This, of course, contradicts recent studies showing the creature to be a vegetarian. For the longest time, the gorilla suffered from this misconception, as well.

Confrontations between man and yeti have been very rare. As people continue to travel to the area, these will invariably increase. In all likelihood, there is nothing to fear from the animals despite their reputation as demonic protectors of the Himalayans, even though they seem to have a strange dislike for trains…

to contact Safari Mike use Twitter: @JamboEveryone