Tree snake >> Skink >> Surprise!

Croc Bank was hosting a zoo keeper’s training program on ‘Captive management of reptiles’ for all South Indian Zoos. A couple of days were hosted at the Chennai Snake Park Trust; ‘Snakes’ and ‘Lizards’.

Previous day was quite fun especially because snakes are my favorite animals and I took all the lectures and practical sessions. I worked hard till late night after coming back from the ‘snake day’ to prepare for the ‘lizard day’.  I have to convince myself “this is close to what I want”, till then I consider the work incomplete. This takes a long time and I rarely impress myself.

Anyway, so I was coming back to my room from the office at around 01:00am (yeah, that’s how long it takes!) and I saw something shiny crawling in the grass outside Akanksha’s office. “Snake” – is what I would have loved to see… but wait a minute… that’s a…. FISH!?!  A snakehead fish! Suddenly, I wasn’t sleepy any more.

Snakeheads are found locally and we keep a few in our water filtration tanks. They are so cool. Once, while emptying one of the filtration tanks for cleaning I saw one big snakehead leap out of the water and cover around 15 feet! It sadly landed on land with a thud and then started vocalizing! I put it back in water with no physical injuries. I love them. They are awesome.

A snakehead in the underwater gharial filtration tank

I knew Channids breathe air with their suprabranchial organ but do they cover distances on land? I remembered the instance of the climbing perches last monsoon. That was so crazy! Here is the video.

This snakehead was at least 20 feet away from the filtration tank and was heading towards the opposite direction of the tank! So many questions popped up but most of them ended up with the same “why?”

I started listing the environmental factors that may have triggered this behavior. Everything seemed fine for a predatory fish living in a planted tank, except for one thing may be. This is summer; low water table in natural ponds. If these fishes do actually travel on land in search for other water bodies may be then it does make sense, especially because the fish stock of this particular filtration tank was freshly acquired. I would assume that the instincts might have made them take the decision to crawl out in search of other water body. But then in that case, the tank is that water body; nice, deep, planted and lots of food fishes!

I keep saying that we often assume things in the field of natural history but the reality is more often completely different (but always logical). In my experience, all predatory animals are extremely smart. The best logical explanation that I could derive out of this behavior is that the fish knows it was caught by a ‘potential predator’ and is now kept in an enclosed environment where it can get caught again. The first reaction to captivity - is escape, be it a bird, a mammal (including humans) or a fish. So was the fish smart enough to figure out that humans are not around at night and thus is the best time to escape? But then what about the other predators? May be the fish doesn’t know about them yet. By this time I reached my room. That was a very thoughtful 2 minute walk after releasing the fish back in the tank. Most of the questions still remain unanswered.

So where are the tree snake and the skink?

Well, they come in action the next day morning. The breakfast was arranged at Jade resort, about a couple of minutes drive from Croc Bank. After breakfast, I had to collect some stuff from the Croc Bank on the way to the Chennai Snake Park. Patrick, Gowri and Akanksha were also to accompany us from there. While we were coming out of the gate between the Yacare caiman and Arrican dwarf crocs exhibit, I saw a Bronzeback tree snake Dendrelaphis tristis shoot down off the wall of the dwarf croc enclosure. The snake was partially visible to me with a Neem tree obstructing the visibility. To me, it looked like it was escaping from us. Just then Patrick exclaimed “Hey, it’s hunting something!”

Sure enough, we saw a Brahminy skink Mabuya carinata rush out of the plantation.

Skink (Mabuya carinata) on stone wall

It climbed the wall as fast as it could and they are good climbers, but so is the Bronzeback! I could not believe the speed at which the snake climbed. There was like a 10 – 12 cms gap between the two when the chase was on. The skink smartly entered the dry coconut leaf wall touching the wall with all hopes of losing the snake, and it did work, for about 30 seconds. That was the most active snake that I had ever seen. It was super alert, constantly smelling the air and the leaves, reacting to every vibration (every time the skink moved in the leaves) and had the most watchful eyes. We all were stationed trying to guess what will happen next. At the beginning we thought the skink will obviously get away but now looking at the snake’s determination and its physical capabilities, may be not much of an escape for the skink. But who knows? The skink was fast too and was running for his life.

The skink was climbing up and down the leaves trying to confuse the snake but snake was following the scent trail so efficiently, and was also gaining speed every minute. For once they both disappeared. The skink came out first but without the tail! Did the trick work? Couldn’t see the snake anymore. The skink now started climbing the leaf wall. It suddenly looked alert and then jumped from a height of about 8 feet!

“What the…… !“

And in the same second I saw the Bronzeback strike in air but obviously missed. I have seen this with rat snakes before but for the first time I saw a Bronzeback jump from the same height and almost land next to the skink!

“WHAT THE…… !!!”

It was a rough landing for the snake and took a few seconds to recover. These few seconds were crucial for the skink and it wasted no time. It was back in the leaf wall in a flash and now on the stone wall on the other side, relaxed for a bit. I could see its tiny heart pumping real hard. Phew, those were some adrenaline filled moments. I was so excited! Everything was happening so fast that I didn’t really get a chance to photo-document anything. May be now I should take a photo of the winner in the battle of survival today. I take my camera out, try to focus on the exhausted skink. Just then the skink starts running again!

It tries to jump off the wall but this time it's a bit too late..

The Bronzeback caught the skink in mid air!

M I D   A I R!!!

Adrenaline was overflowing now. WOW! That was amazing; the best hunt ever!

The skink was trying to bite the snake but all in vain. I could see the venom was working fast as the skink was becoming more and more lethargic in its struggle.

Skink now losing hope

Now the snake was a bit wary of us. This was typical of most predators after a successful hunt, less often seen in snakes though. Bronzebacks are a bit different. They carry their catch in a safe area and then swallow it. I had once seen one that fell off a tree with a small evening bat in its mouth. It then carried the bat to the safety of the cactus fence and swallowed it. Swallowing a bat takes time especially when the spread-out claws keep getting stuck in everything. This happened right outside the round-house in Croc Bank.

This snake was also carrying the skink in its mouth and now started to move towards the cactus fence where it will swallow the hard earned catch.

Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis) carrying the skink away

Finally it all ended…

… or did it?

A male Garden lizard Calotes versicolor was patiently watching all the action. It was on the same side of the wall where the snake was heading to. The calotes climbed the stone wall and confronted the snake with open mouth!

Calotes versicolor confronting the Dendrelaphis

The snake tried to ignore the situation and tried to sneak past it but the calotes had other plans. He attacked the snake, bit it on the neck and tried to snatch the dead skink away! The snake freaked out and jumped off the wall and landed on our side. It let go of the skink and escaped in the bush. The calotes was not confident enough to come and get the skink in our presence and so he retreated. I felt bad for the snake. After all that, it finally didn’t get anything. Patrick spotted the snake again and aimed the dead skink close to the snake. No response.

We were getting late and had to move. No clue who took the skink finally. I bet the garden lizard did see us throw the skink and I’m pretty sure he would have claimed the booty! But who knows if it ended at that..

What a start to the day! Awesome!

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Tale of 2 Tomistomas

Apologies to all for such a long gap, but April and May (so far) has been a very busy period for me. April began with Croc Bank Docent training program for the 2010 batch on 3^rd and 4^th. A few of the docents couldn’t make it but we are planning a separate training program for them.  This was followed by a TGMP camp from 5^th to 9^th. That was fun.  It is always fun with Gerry Martin around! I guess changing a few things in every workshop keeps it interesting; keeps it alive.

                       


We had a brief staff meeting on the 10^th finalizing almost everything regarding the big upcoming event; Tomistoma transfer from Ahmedabad Zoo! Yep, ‘Godzilla’ was finally coming to Croc Bank. With a big help from Air India, Ahmedabad Zoo and several friends (Prachee and Rishit in particular!), the transfer was a super smooth one. Thanks to all the friends in media, there was great coverage throughout the event in both the cities, Ahmedabad and Chennai. Personally, for me it was a big achievement considering ‘Psycho’ (our male) and ‘Godzilla’ are the only surviving male and female Tomistoma in the country. Also, there was a silent pressure to start conservation breeding of Tomistoma since that is one of our major focuses and there is a need.

Psycho - Tomistoma schlegelii

Tomistoma population in the wild is comparable to Royal Bengal Tigers; under 2400, making them one of the most endangered crocodilians – now extinct in Thailand. But that figure unfortunately doesn't grab a lot of attention. So much depends on the ‘charisma’ factor! Luckily there is an active group of dedicated conservationists working for Tomistoma. Tomistoma Task Force will provide you with more details.

Godzilla’s capture on the morning of 16 April was rather quick. Amazingly she didn’t react much! After experiencing Psycho’s capture to measure and weigh him in early 2009, I had imagined some action with Godzilla. Psycho was snapping, rolling, snapping, pulling the rope, snapping, trying to throw people off his back, snapping… and hence was called ‘Psycho’. He was 11 feet long then and weighed 130 Kilos.

Godzilla was welcomed at Chennai airport by around 25 media people. She was a big star. We quickly loaded her in the truck and she was off to Croc Bank. I stayed with the wooden crate at the back of the truck. The ride was bumpy but lead me to a flashback. Godzilla was one of the first animals that I ever saw! I was a nuisance child forcing my parents (or whoever was baby-sitting) to take me to the zoo almost every day! I was 3 when I saw her first and I remember my parents telling me that I used to spend long time staring in the enclosure. May be I was planning this transfer since then!

Gz in her old enclosure

Considering Ahmedabad my home and Croc Bank my workplace, I was taking Godzilla from my home to my workplace and as per the breeding loan deal, will take back 50% of the babies back to my home. How cool is that!

We reached Croc Bank and I could see at least 32 welcoming hands. Godzilla’s enclosure was all ready. It was only a matter of few minutes and she was let free in her new home. She wasn’t disturbed at all for the rest of the day.

Next day we had an official opening followed by a press conference. Godzilla looked all confused.

Gz in her new enclosure

Everything was different. Huge enclosure with strange substrate and weird looking shade providers. She was experiencing a big vegetated enclosure with soil and leaf litter for the first time in 35 years! We were excited but there were a few doubts. Her age was a big worry. She is 38 already. Will she be able to produce eggs? We hoped for the best.

Introducing her to Psycho is another challenge. It has to be a soft introduction. Both the animals will have to convince us that they are compatible; no love life till then.

They are sharing the same enclosure and the pond within but with a divider keeping them apart. On land and above the water surface on pond, casuarina fencing separates them but allows seeing, hearing and smelling each other. The pond underwater is separated by a wall. The wall has a window with metal bars which allows olfactory senses to work underwater. All thanks to Gerry and Ralf for this idea and it works really great.

Psycho was obviously curious about the intruder. Knowing him, he will kill anything that threatens his territory or will die trying; something not to look forwards to but to be always kept in mind.

Psycho (left) and Gz's (right) first interaction

Fortunately, Psycho was cool with Godzilla. Such a relief! He was in fact showing a lot of interest with no signs of aggression. He would hang out on the same side of the enclosure as she and when she goes underwater, he goes near the underwater window and displays some cool croc communication in forms or short grunts, growls, bubbling, etc. Last week I saw him with his head raised and mouth open. I could see his throat vibrating but no sound! This was probably some sort of subsonic communication. Awesome!

I started from Croc Bank at 03:00 hrs for the airport on the 24^th. I was on my way to Goa to attend the 30^th International Sea Turtle Symposium. This was the first time it was being organized in India; a huge opportunity for Indian biologists / conservationists to network with the rest of the world. The flight was via Mumbai with a 4 hour stopover. Now what can I do in Mumbai?

“Mallika!”

This was perfect. I hadn’t met her in 3 years and she was in Mumbai. It was a brief meet but all worth it.

The symposium was quite a different experience for me. I had never seen so many turtle (marine) conservationists in one place. Met some great personalities like Jack Frazier and Peter Pritchard. Rom, who started Sea turtle conservation in India back in early 70’s, was also around.

Stay arrangement was awesome. I was sharing a room with Dr. Patrick Aust, Croc Bank Director, in Taj Vivanta, Panaji. I was in love with luxury, totally.

On the evening of last day, I was alone in my room when Rom, Janaki and Jack Frazier came over. Patrick had gone for a swim in the awesome rooftop pool. Rom was getting ready for the evening party when Janaki first mentioned about the unfortunate croc attack in the Andamans. The victim was really unlucky as this was the first time ever that a Saltie (Crocodylus porosus) was seen on the beaches of Havelock Island! Sad.

I got back on 30^th late night – straight to bed, only to wake up to a surprise. Ganga, our senior keeper discovered a nest in Godzilla’s enclosure!

"A nest?"

"Nest?"

I really need to check this before I believe it.

Gz's mound nest!

Well, there it was… a mound nest made of raked up fallen leaves, soil, twigs and fallen branches. 2 feet high and around 3 feet wide. She had built a nest! A real freakin’ nest! This was the first time she made one, ever, in all 38 years of her life! That's some real strong instincts. 

This was within 2 weeks of her being at Croc Bank! This is crazy! It is so amazing; how fast they adapt when exposed to a suitable habitat. This was one of the most amazing behaviors I’d ever seen in crocs……until 2 days later, when we found eggs in the nest!

All 12 eggs were perfect in health.

Worried about her productivity? Not any more!

The eggs were obviously infertile since she hasn't mated yet, but I candled each egg carefully with high hopes of reporting parthenogenesis in crocs for the first time. No Damn Luck!

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