Peter and the crocodile
By Zadie Neufville
eter loves crocodiles. He works as a
crocodile catcher at the Conservation office in town.
Peter catches crocodiles because they
are protected. This means people who stone or kill crocodiles can go
to jail.
One day when Peter went to work. A man
who lives near the mangroves called Peter on the telephone.
“Come quick,” said the man.
“There is a big crocodile in the river
and people are throwing sticks and stones in the river to hit it,” he
said.
The river runs through the mangrove.
It is a nice cool place with shady trees.
Crocodiles love rivers and mangroves.
The crocodile was looking for a nice cool place to stay.
Many people are afraid of crocodiles
so Peter must get to the river quickly. Many people live close to where
the crocodile is staying.
Peter put on his water boots and his
hat. He got some rope and a strong stick. He then jumped into his van
and went off to the river.
When Peter the Crocodile Catcher got
to the river, lots of people were looking down at the crocodile.
“Look!” said a girl in a big hat, “There
is the crocodile!”
“Hit it!” said a boy with big water boots.
He was climbing the bridge to throw stones into the water.
“Stop!” said Peter, “You can’t stone
crocodiles”.
“And why not,” asked the boy.
“If you stone crocodiles you will hurt
them. And if you hurt crocodiles you can go to Jail,” said Peter.
The boy dropped the stone.
“I never knew that,” he said. “I won’t
stone crocodiles again”.
Then Peter told every one that they must
help him to protect the crocodiles.
“We don’t have a lot of crocodiles left,”
he said.
Why? asked the
girl.
So Peter told them about the crocodiles.
“Crocodiles are descendants of the dinosaur.
They look the same as they did millions of years ago. We don’t have as
many crocodiles now because people cut the mangrove and used too much
water. Now the Crocodile must live where man lives and this is hard,”
said Peter.
“But they will eat us”, said the girl.
“Crocodiles eat fish and will only eat
other animals if they are hungry and there is no fish!” said Peter.
“Crocodiles are shy and will run away,
but if you are close to their babies and their eggs they will attack
and may hurt you,” Peter said.
“Oh, I never knew that. I will tell my
brother,” said the boy.
“If crocodiles are so nice why did you
come for him,” asked the girl.
“I will put him in a safe place where
no one can hurt him,” said Peter.
“We will help you,” said the people.
They followed Peter down to the River
and helped him to catch the crocodile.
Then Peter tied up the crocodile so he
could not bite anyone.
He then put him in the van and drove
off to the Zoo.
CROCODILE
FACTS
Ø There are 21 species of crocodiles
Ø But there is only one specie of crocodile
in Jamaica
Ø Crocodiles can grow up to 5 metres
Ø Crocodiles hunt their food at night
Ø Crocodiles are meat eaters
Ø Crocodiles will hunt for food in garbage
if they are hungry
Dos
and Don’ts
- Don’t go fishing or bathing in
rivers where there are crocodiles
- Don’t tie pigs and goats close
to rivers and swamps with crocodiles
- Don’t dump garbage in rivers or
swamps or beaches. This will attract crocodiles
- If you see a crocodile near your
home call NEPA at 1-888 991-5005
