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April 16, 2007

Limb-Loving Lizards: Crocodile Bites Off Hand But...

I was browsing through National Geographics week in pictures over the weekend when I suddenly stopped and my jaw dropped. Behind me, my husband stopped talking and started gawking at my screen.

The amazing picture of a big crocodile with a bloody fist in its mouth looked surreal. It took me a good few seconds of staring at it before my husband nudged me to look at the follow-up picture of the smiling vet waving at the camera after his hand was reattached hours later.

Veterinarian Chang Po-yu was reaching through iron bars to remove tranquilizer darts before treating the 440-pound (200-kilogram) reptile when the inadequately sedated animal bit the vet's forearm off.

But for the vet, it wasn't quite a farewell to arm.

After being shot at twice, but apparently unhit, the croc dropped the arm. After seven hours of surgery, doctors successfully reattached the appendage...

More At: National Geographic Week In Photos: Croc Bites Off Hand

That's some amazing surgery. I hope they meant shot with a tranq, not killed, but somehow I doubt it.

Find out more about Nile Crocodiles in our African Field Notes.

Posted by sorsha at April 16, 2007 10:05 PM