December 17, 2003

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He's Back

The unlinkable SCMP brings this morning news of a most happy nature. He's going to try again:

As the mainland experts headed home to Panyu empty handed yesterday, Australian hunter John Lever said he's ready for another go at catching the Yuen Long crocodile.
He has designed a laser-guided harpoon, specifically with Hong Kong's wily reptile in mind, but the weather needs to warm up first, he said yesterday.

When the laser sight finds its target the harpoon is accurate up to 30 metres. Speaking from Queensland as he set off to test his new weapon catching a rogue 3.5-metre croc in the Fitzroy river, he said he began designing the tool on the flight home from Hong Kong at the end of last month. "It's become a big challenge to me to catch him safely, especially a little chap like this who eludes me. I'd love to come up to Hong Kong again if I was invited," he said.

Mr Lever said he was not surprised to hear the 10-man mainland team from the crocodile farm attached to the safari park at Panyu, on the outskirts of Guangzhou, had had no luck after nine days. "They were hunting in daylight - it needs to be at night," he said. Their attempts to snare the 1.2-metre reptile in nets strung across the river failed when the crafty croc popped up on the other side. The cold weather has further frustrated their efforts: crocodiles stay underwater where it's warmest once the temperature drops. "You'll find him following the tidal currents now because they will be warmest, and basking on the bank when the sun's out to get his body heat up," Mr Lever said.

His advice to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department had been to leave the croc in peace until temperatures rose and he started eating again. The animal was in no danger from the cold and could go up to three months without food, but he would not eat at temperatures below 24 degrees Celsius.

When asked if they would invite Mr Lever back, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department was hesitant. "Maybe Mr Lever's new harpoon is one way to do it, but right now the mainland experts are still trying. They are optimistic they can catch it," he said. "Possibly we could invite Mr Lever back but I am not the one to decide. Mr Lever is the expert. When we worked with him we learned so much about crocodile behaviour. He had the expertise but not the luck."

Hong Kong's tourism industry really needs to get behind the effort this time. I know at least one person who'll be happy about the return of Aussie Jon Lever. And he's got laser-guided weapons this time. He can't miss!

posted by Simon on 12.17.03 at 10:29 AM in the




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