CAIRNS POST (Australia) 23 December 09 Lady crocodiles desperate for sex (Ben Blomfield)

Far Northern female crocodiles are experiencing a man drought - with a lack of rain delaying the breeding season and leaving single salties in a sex-starved limbo.

The cold-blooded animals rely on rain and hot weather to jolt them out of their sexual slumber and get them in the mating mood for the three-month romp.

But an unusually dry and cool start to the wet season has left male crocs happy to rest and conserve energy until weather warms up - much to the dislike of keen females.

Mareeba's Melaleuca Crocodile Farm manager Peter Fisher said some of his prized male breeders felt too cold and comfortable to be out "chasing girls".

"They don't want to got out and chase girls, it's a waste of energy," he said.

"These are cold-blooded animals that need heat to get them going.

"When it starts to warm up they start chasing each other ... not many of them are going out and chasing girls at the moment."

Unseasonable weather patterns have also affected croc sightings, with the last reported incident in early October in Weipa when a salty lunged at woman at Rocky Point boat ramp.

Cairns crocs have finished up with most of their mating as coastal weather allows earlier consummation but the dry weather has affected nesting with many eggs yet to be hatched.

Hartley's Creek Crocodile Adventures wildlife manager David Leyden said colder than usual weather in Mareeba was affecting mating but said along the coast sexual patterns were fine.

Salties overcame the lacklustre conditions in Innisfail with Johnstone River Crocodile Farm managing droves of successful breeders breaking through the cold weather.

The Innisfail park has finished up with most of their mating and manager Andrew Young says around 700 to 800 eggs are currently being incubated.
Lady crocodiles desperate for sex

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• AUS Press: Lady crocs desperate for sex - W von Papineäu, Sat Dec 26 14:03:12 2009