Crocodiles have Built-in Navigation Defying Relocation
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Scientists in Australia are shocked by recent research revealing that crocodiles have sophisticated navigational intelligence that defies the practice of relocation for aggressive creatures. Using satellite tracking devices fixed to wild crocs uncovered their well developed homing instinct and stamina of long distance migratory birds.
Photo Hekkeller
Three crocodiles were relocated from northern Queensland and transported hundreds of miles where they were released. All 3 returned to their home rivers, swimming up to 19 miles per day. Within 20 days one particular crocodile was back home, after a journey of more than 250 miles (400 kilometers), reports Times Online.
Photo Hekkeller
The results from this project were released this week in the online scientific journal PloS ONE as collaboration between the University of Queensland, Australia Zoo and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. The world’s first satellite tracking study of wild crocodiles was founded by Steve Irwin, the naturalist who was killed in September 2006 when a stingray barb pierced his heart as he was filming an underwater documentary.
Photo EthnoScape
Craig Franklin, of the University of Queensland’s School of Integrative Biology, said the results proved that crocodiles are oceanic animals that can move phenomenal distance over an extended period. “We often thought crocodiles tired very quickly, but here we show very clearly that they are capable of moving marathon distances for days on end.” said Professor Franklin.
Each of the crocodiles spent weeks discovering their new settings before embarking on their passage back home.
“Our observations clearly imply that crocodilians are skilful at interpreting a suite of complex cues for orientation and navigation, and this aspect of their behavior demands additional investigation.”
The crocs were tracked with special transmitters attached to their heads which collected data that was conveyed via satellite to the scientists.
Photo MHarrsch
The study concludes that relocating dangerous and potentially man eating crocodiles to remote areas is ineffective. They were, according to one scientist, just like boomerangs.
“If a problem crocodile animal is living in an area where conflict with humans is likely, then other options need to be employed. Of particular interest were the large distances traveled in a comparatively short time.”
It’s unclear what exactly enables the reptiles to navigate so skillfully. Professor Franklin stated that crocodiles probably used many factors, such as position to the sun, magnetic fields, sight and smell to navigate. “Crocodiles are more closely related to birds than they are any other reptile. Maybe they are using navigation systems that are similar to what occurs in birds.”
Professor Franklin said that further satellite and acoustic tracking studies would reveal even more imposing results about crocodile behaviour, particularly their navigation.
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I am seriously impressed. Who knew crocs were so smart? There’s also a similar article in the UK’s Daily Mail – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=484192&in_page_id=1770.
-Marie
It does come as quite a surprise Goji. Thanks for the added info
Fascinating, I didn’t even know crocs are related to bird.
Very interesting article. Nature is full of these kinds of surprises, we just need to take the time to search for them and figure them out.
eBest, they’re not exactly related to birds, other than their similar instincts for homing.
I love finding nature’s surprises in creatures Humemes. That’s just it, quite often it’s simply a matter of taking the time and effort to learn about them.
Very interesting post. I’ll be spending more time with certain areas. Well done and good luck with your work. Having just found your blog on Google, I’ll be back many times.
Thanks College, great to hear it
Actually, crocs are the closest living relatives to birds. Crocs stem from the reptile line which was ancestral to dinosaurs (thecodonts), and are considered by some today to comprise the only other surviving members of the Archosaur superclass (which at one time contained crocodilians, dinosaurs and birds). They have the closest thing to a bird skeletal system found in the reptile kindgom, and are also the closest things there to being warm-blooded. Their skeletons bear clear marks of their once having been bipedal, like dinosaurs and birds.
I’m glad about that. I’ve been wondering what might have happened to one they released in Temple Bay. There was already a large croc.living in that area. At least 20ft. Hope he made it home to the West Coast OK.
Regards,
Gayle.
i love animals but crocodiles are killing the animals they see and i love all of the animals even crocodiles
this reply is to all the people out there
i love crocodiles
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Very interesting article. Nature is full of these kinds of surprises, we just need to take the time to search for them and figure them out.
What great pictures, thank you