Sahara/Nile crocodiles - UK Press Items

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ HerpForum - Africa ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Wes von Papine�u on February 10, 2000 at 10:05:57:

THE TIMES (London, UK) 09 February 00 Sahara crocodiles (Nigel Hawkes)
A population of Nile crocodiles has been found - in the Sahara Desert. This is one of the most extraordinary discoveries for years, since biologists had assumed the reptiles had died out. Ten thousand years ago, when the Sahara was a fertile savanna, crocodiles flourished but, as the desert spread, they died.
Or so the experts believed.
A German team, led by Wolfgang B�hme from the Alexander Koenig Museum in Bonn, were studying reptiles in the area when they heard rumours of crocodiles on a rocky plateau. They sped to the site where they found a 60ft-wide pond. Next to this was a Nile crocodile - sunning itself.
It was small, two metres long compared with the six metres of an African croc. But a croc it was. So were the other three the team discovered. They suspect there are more and Dr B�hme intends to fit some with radio collars to discover more about their lifestyle.

Follow Ups:

Where in the Sahara were these croc? Chad? Mauritania? Carrie Regan 03/09/00 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: THE TIMES (London, UK) 09 February 00 Sahara crocodiles (Nigel Hawkes) : A population of Nile crocodiles has been found - in the Sahara Desert. This is one of the most extraordinary discoveries for years, since biologists had assumed the reptiles had died out. Ten thousand years ago, when the Sahara was a fertile savanna, crocodiles flourished but, as the desert spread, they died. : Or so the experts believed. : A German team, led by Wolfgang B�hme from the Alexander Koenig Museum in Bonn, were studying reptiles in the area when they heard rumours of crocodiles on a rocky plateau. They sped to the site where they found a 60ft-wide pond. Next to this was a Nile crocodile - sunning itself. : It was small, two metres long compared with the six metres of an African croc. But a croc it was. So were the other three the team discovered. They suspect there are more and Dr B�hme intends to fit some with radio collars to discover more about their lifestyle. :

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ HerpForum - Africa ] [ FAQ ]