Working with the False Gharial – One of the World’s Largest, Rarest Crocodiles

Hi All,
I find it difficult to express just how fortunate I’ve been in having had the chance to work with 12 Crocodilian species in the wild and captivity. Breeding Dwarf Caimans, wrestling Orinoco Crocodiles into boats, getting up close and personal to Gomek (a giant, now famous Salt Water Croc), rearing Indian Gharials…these and many other experiences remain etched in my memory. One species in particular cemented my interest in the group, and remains as much a mystery today as it was when I first saw it some 40 years ago – the massive False Gharial, Tomistoma schlegelii. Read more here Working with the False Gharial - One of the World's Largest Crocodiles
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.

Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog
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We've got False Gharial in our collection here in Saint Louis. Until I read your post, I was unaware they were so rare. I'll have to make a special detour into the Herpetarium to appreciate them more! Thanks for sharing.

 

The tomistomas at the Los Angeles Zoo have a nice new habitat. It is always fun to see these beautiful animals.

 

An enjoyable read as usual. Unless I missed it, your article did not mention maneaters. Have these crocs been known to take humans?

 

I envy you. (We all do)
Congrats!

 

I've been extremely fortunate, thanks for the kind words, enjoy, Frank

 

Hi, thanks very much. There are no published records as far as I could tell (a co-worker looked into the lit some time ago), the jaw structure allows them to take animals to the size of a monkey or so, but the gape is much smaller than that of the generalist feeders, such as Nile crocs, Am alligators, etc. they are also quite shy, even as adults. In isolated parts of their range there could, I imagine, be incidents involving small children that were never recorded, but I've not heard of any. Best regards, frank

 

Thanks for that info, much appreciated, frank

 

St Louis has a wonderful reptile house, and a long history of accomplishments in care/breeding. Thanks..please let me know what you think after visiting, best, Frank

 

Thank you very much! very interesting...I've forwarded to 2 colleagues who will be most interested..seems I'll need to revise my beliefs about their gape!

best regards, frank

 

Thanks for that! Did the article say that they cut open its belly and found the remains of the man? I get the impression that a man went missing, and they killed a big croc assuming it ate him.

 

I did read the article, but I probably skim read it and missed the most important bit! Try using the forum and reading reading websites on a mobile phone and you will see how easy it is to miss stuff.

 

Oh dear dear.

 

A jibe isn't a jibe if the other person doesn't follow. Is it a Kiwi joke? I thought you meant I typed the word 'reading' twice. A mobile phone screen only allows you to see about 6 words at a time.