FIGHT TO THE DEATH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6955, 8 July 1929, Page 5

FIGHT TO THE DEATH

Alligator and Crocodile

NIGHT ATTACK IN ZOO “George,” the ninety-year-old Missippi alligator at the London Zoo, who has the distinction of being the largest inhabitant of the crocodile pool in the new Reptile House, has celebrated the centenary of the society by adding a third to his list of victims. “George” has had a singularly chequered career. In the old Reptile House he shared the central pool with two other slightly smaller companions of the same species and a crocodile cousin from the Old AY or Id. For several years they all lived together in comparative harmony, each in his own Special corncu - of the -pond. A\i"li ihe coming of old however. “George’s” temper ber.afne increasingly uncertain, and after a .few preliminary rounds he “polished off” his smaller brethren, and as a result was condemned to solitary confinement soon aitcr he was transferred to the new house. In the meantime cousin crocodile had also developed a hasty temper, and had succeeded in inflicting severe wounds on some other smaller fiv who shared his pool. The upshot of this was that, space being limited, lie was put in with “George.” as he was considered able to look after himself. The wily old “George,” however, proved too much for him, and he met the same fate as the other two, with the result, that “George” once more reigns alone and supreme. No one has ever actually seen the way in which “George” manages to vanquish his foes, as his deadly attacks are always made during the night. His victory over the crocodile was undoubtedly duo to his superior weight, as his adversary was by far the move agile of the two, and had a better set of teeth.

The last time “George” “weighedin,” which was when he was moved to the new house in 1927, he turned the scale at 3ewt. His latest victim weighed considerably less than. this. In this respect large reptiles are deceptive, for to the eye they appear to weigh, much more than they really do. It is surprising to find, for instance, that the largest of the. Zoo’s pythons, measuring over 20ft. in length, only weighs a little more than lewt. In the alligators and crocodiles the weight is mainly in the tail, which is a muscular organ of extreme strength, and is used by the animal both in defence and attack.