Student spends summer snapping up crocs
ZOOLOGIST STUDIED CROCODILES FOR HIS DISSERTATION
HOW did you spend your summer? It’s a knocking bet that nobody spent it like Tynesider Max Henderson.
For 11 weeks Max, 21, from Whitley Bay, captured crocodiles in the wild to measure their stress levels.
It’s an activity that would see most people’s stress levels soar, never mind the crocs.
Max, who is in the final year of his biology degree course at Newcastle University, was taking part in an expedition to Costa Rica in Central America with fellow zoology students Alexander Liddington and Yannick Thompson.
His fascination with crocodiles goes back to childhood – and Peter Pan played a part. There was also his collection of croc toys.
“I can remember at the age of around three seeing crocodiles while on holiday in Florida and one of the first things I recall seeing on TV was Peter Pan, with the crocodile,” said Max, who went to Whitley Bay High School.
“I have been passionate about them for as long as I can remember.”
At the age of 11 Max appeared on BBC TV’s Junior Mastermind when his specialist subject was, of course, crocodiles. He came second.
Last year he worked as a volunteer on a project studying caimans – members of the Crocodilia family – in a national park in the Amazon basin in Peru.
This year Max, Alexander and Yannick raised funds for their trip from the Royal Geographical Society, Newcastle University Expeditions Committee, James Marshall Foundation and Hertfordshire Travel Fund.
They were based in the Palo Verde National Park in Costa Rica, a 184 square kilometre expanse of wetland and forest.
Theirs will be one of several presentations at a public event on Wednesday from 5.30pm at the Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University by students showcasing the achievements of their summer research scholarships and expeditions.
Max is studying stress in crocodiles for his final dissertation. Stress, from factors including climate warming, disturbance by humans and pollution, can affect crocodiles’ growth rate, reproduction and immune system and they are already classed as a vulnerable species.
Max’s task was to catch crocodiles and take blood samples which could be analysed for stress levels.
He and Alexander would go out at night in search of crocodiles and frogs. The Costa Rica crocs can grow to five metres but Max steered clear of the bigger animals.
He located crocodiles by their redeye reflection from his spotlight.
“You can tell how big they are by how far apart their eyes are,” said Max.
“When I was getting to know the animals and the habitat, it was a nervous time but I was always very careful.
“There were lots of instances when I wouldn’t go into the water, such as when it was murky. I would only approach crocodiles when I knew I could do it safely.”
He caught young crocodiles, up to two metres, using a pole with a snare loop on the end, then holding their jaws shut while quickly taking a sample.
“They can grow to a big size, but they do not go out of their way to attack people,” said Max.
“A lot of dangerous situations are caused when people mess with them. The message is don’t provoke them, and treat them with respect rather than disdain.”
As a creature at the top of the food chain , if the crocodiles disappear there would be a significant affect on the ecosystem, said Max.
“They keep things in balance,” he said.
“In terms of conservation, my research should provide vital information to help manage and protect the wild Costa Rican population. Also, these findings should be applicable to other species, and improve understanding of the effects off changing environments on reptile species worldwide.” Alexander Liddington’s study involved taking swabs from the 13 species of frogs found in the national park to test for the presence of Chytrid fungus, a widespread disease which is destroying global amphibian populations. It also affects shrimps. “It is a huge problem for amphibians like newts and frogs in the UK,” he said.
Yannick used baited traps to study dung beetles in various different habitats, such as mango groves, meadows, and forest. Dung beetles can act as pollinators, nutrient cyclers, and improve fertility of soil. Assessment of their habitat preference can provide information to help predict and compensate for environmental impacts of land development.
The message is don’t provoke them, and treat them with respect rather than disdain