In search of killer crocodiles
6m long and weigh more than 907kg.
“After several days swimming, these crocs would be very hungry and dangerous to come across,” said Fukuda, the researcher. To test the migration theory, Fukuda and Banks planned to collect DNA samples from a number of crocodiles.
But taking a DNA sample from a crocodile is a far riskier proposition than your typical home heredity kit.
For obvious reasons, swabbing the inside of a crocodile’s cheek is not an option. Instead, the scientists must penetrate a croc’s leathery hide using a needle attached to a3.6m long aluminium rod, which is known as a biopsy pole. glistening dots reflecting the light of their headlamps and floating just above the surface of the water — crocodile eyes. Based on the distance between the croc’s eyes, Banks estimated its total length: 3.6m, a big one.
De Araujo grabbed the biopsy pole and took off, bare foot, into the dark swamp. After minutes of silence, he lunged at something and let out a shriek. He had landed his first jab.
Moments later, he waded out of the water to show the group his result. The needle was bent, but contained a tiny, 3mm sample.
For the next six days, the team searched for animals to test. They lanced wild crocodiles, but also retrieved samples from crocs that were being held as pets, mascots or lucky charms. They ended up with 17 good samples.
Fukuda planned to take the samples back to Australia for testing, but he first had to get back on Timor’s ragged coastal roads and head to Dili, the capital. He was halfway there when his driver stopped for a crowd gathered by the edge of the ocean.
A police officer beckoned the scientist to show him a set of items that had washed up on the beach — goggles, a spear gun and a torn pair of swim trunks.
They belonged to Agostinu da Cunya, a 17-year-old who went spearfishing the evening before with his brother while their father waited for them on the shore. The boy, his family said, had been attacked by a crocodile. He was never seen again.
NYT