Caught On Camera: Snake Devours Crocodile after 5 Hour Battle

A SNAKE fought, wrestled and then ate a crocodile whole following a dramatic five-hour long battle. The incident was captured on camera by author Tiffany Corlis at Lake Moondarra in Queensland, Australia. The snake - thought to be  python measuring around (Barcroft TV)
The super predator threatened by poaching and habitat destruction

What
The Royal Bengal tiger (
Panthera tigris tigris), the national animal of India is an incredible sight. With its orange hide marked with dark stripes, its white underbelly, long tail, huge paws and fearsome teeth, the Royal Bengal Tiger of India is justifiably called the 'King of the Jungle'.

About
Royal Bengal Tigers range in length from 1.8 to 2.7 m (6-9 ft), while the length of its tail can be over 90 cm. An average Royal Bengal Tiger weighs between 130-180 kg. Its life expectancy is about 15-20 years and the females give birth to 3-4 cubs after a pregnancy of about 3.5 months.

The colour of the Royal Bengal Tigers pelt can range from orange to tan with white beneath. They shed their short thick fur in summer and it grows in thickness in winter. The strong jaw of the tiger is used to bite the throat or neck of the prey.

Tiger killings are split second affairs where the prey hardly has any chance of survival. Its formidable and retractile claws play a significant role in capturing and holding on to its prey.


Why
The Royal Bengal Tiger is a super predator and important member of the carnivores that once roamed and dominated all of South East Asia. It is one of the stealthiest hunters, known for its intelligent and powerful attacks.
 

Tigers lead solitary lives, and the courtship period, and association between mother and cub is their only interaction and association. Tigers are entirely different in their hunting habits from lions, and hence they are mutually exclusive in their distribution. Tigers rest during the day in the shade, and begin to hunt for food at dusk. They have keen eyesight and a sharp hearing that helps them stalk their prey.



Your chances of seeing it in the wild
Royal Bengal Tiger is an endangered species. Their numbers were recorded as below 2,000 in the 1970s, after which Project Tiger was initiated in India in 1973 in wildlife national parks and sanctuaries of India. There has been a steady increase in the population of tigers in India where they are protected in 27 tiger reserves, wildlife national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

The threat of poaching due to the demand for tiger bones and body parts in traditional Chinese medicine remains a pressing issue. The loss of habitat as well as human population pressure on wildlife reserves in India is another concern.

Souce: wwf.panda.org/.../royal_bengal_tiger.cfm


Wildlife is an important part of ecological community as wildlife play an important rule in theenvironment.There are several importance of wildlife as wildlife it self is an important character of nature so its conservation is an important obligation for human beings for the sustainability of life on planet earth so there is a comprehensive article on why it is important to save wildlife:
  • Ecological Value    
  • Economic Value                             
  • Recreational Value
  • Scientific Value
  • Social Value 
  • Aesthetical Value

Ecological Value:

Ecological value is the interaction of wildlife in nature. Wildlife plays an essential role in the ecological and biological processes that are yet again significant to life. The normal functioning of the biosphere depends on endless interactions amongst animals, plants, and microorganisms. This, in turn, maintains and enhances human life further. Wildlife maintains ecological ‘balance of nature’ and maintains food chain and nature cycles.

Economic Value:

Using wildlife to earn money. Many wild plants provide useful substances like timber, paper; gums etc and they also have wide applications in medicine. Wild animals Products include elephant tusk, rhino horns, tiger fur, leather etc.

Recreational Value:
Hunting and fishing are the most visible kinds of recreation that depend directly on wildlife resources.There are, however, many other recreational activities that depend less directly on wildlife populations. These include bird watching, photography, hiking, camping, boating etc.

Scientific Value:
Most important contribution of wild life for human progress is availability of large genepool for the scientists to carry breeding programmes in agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery.

Social Value:

Wildlife is the source of livelihood and subsistence. Due to existence of wildlife on earth humans get benefit to sustain life.

Examples:

Hunting, fishing, cultural value of wildlife.
Aesthetical Value:

Aesthetical value is the enjoying of wildlife’s beauty and pleasure. Wildlife enhances the beauty of environment.

How to save wildlife:

    To understand the imperatives of wildlife, wild places and the impacts of human society on their future.
    To conserve wildlife and wild places.

Bamboo forests- the habitat of Giant panda

    Live with nature in absolute harmony.
    To create awareness among people about nature and its importance of life on earth.
    To engage in wise, scientific, professional and caring stewardship of wildlife.
    To monitor wildlife population on regular basis.
    Reduce the habitat fragmentation approaches.

Example: In Roads projects make habitat corridor for wildlife.

    To develop management plans to manage wildlife resources for the benefit of wildlife and humans.
    To develop and implement the adaptive and innovative solutions to conservation problems by melding the expertise and field based sciences.
    National policies should deal with the issues related to wildlife management and conservation.
    Prioritize the more endangered wildlife species for conservation efforts.

Examples:

Snow leopard (endangered), Indus River Dolphin (endangered and endemic)

    Reduce the human and wildlife conflict.

Human and wildlife conflict is the interaction between wild animals and people and the resultant negative impact on people or their resources, or wild animals or their habitat.Solutions to these conflicts include electric fencing, land use planning, community based natural resource management, payment for environmental services, ecotourism, wildlife friendly products, or other field solutions.

Examples:

The Man-Eater of Champawat killed at least 436 people
Ecotourism by elephant in West Bengal, India

    Ensures that laws related to wildlife are followed in all areas such as research, education and use of wildlife.
    Join the wildlife conservation organization e.g WWF
    Implementation of Migratory bird treaty Act for the protection of migratory birds.

Example:

Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) is a United States federal law, at first enacted in 1916 in order to implement the convention for the protection of migratory birds.

        Be careful about wildlife while driving on the road.

Careful driving can protect koalas:

    Make space for animals such as plant trees, bushes and plants that benefit wildlife in your area and place a birdbath in your yard.
    Restrict the intentional introduction of exotic species.

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