Chasing Crocodiles

Jose, 26, is Brazilian. He liked the snakes most, which he always handled with his bare hands when he was little. In fact, he loves all kinds of reptiles. That’s the reason why Jose is now a reptile expert, a herpetologist, or ‘herp’ for short. But his favourite reptiles are crocodiles.

‘Crocodiles are great animals,’ says the young herp. ‘They are a part of a very old group of animals and they are almost the same as the days of dinosaurs. They live for over 100 years.’

Jose is working in Zambia, Africa. He’s working with crocodiles. People call him a ‘crocodile hunter’ but he doesn’t hunt or kill them. Some crocodiles live in popular swimming and fishing areas where tourists like to go and so, of course, they are a danger to people. Jose catches and moves them to safe environments.

‘Sometimes people are a danger to crocodiles, especially young ones. People kill them for their skin, to make very expensive leather,’ Jose complains. He and his colleagues, the people he works with, are developing an educational programme. They are teaching people about crocodiles and people are learning to respect them.

Jose’s hero is Steve Irwin, the famous Australian crocodile hunter. Steve and his wife Terri, an American lion tamer, ran a wildlife park. ‘Steve’s death was very upsetting,’ he says. ‘He was a great guy and his work with reptiles was fantastic, I want to continue the kind of work he did. People find it scary and unusual but this is the only occupation that I find very exciting.’