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BIRMINGHAM NEWS (Alabama) 17 August 05 Zoo official back at work 2 months after alligator bite (Walter Bryant)
Having been away from the office almost two months, Birmingham Zoo Assistant Director Jeff Cook thought a stack of paperwork looked pretty good Tuesday.
It was his first day on the job since an 11-foot alligator bit him on his right leg in the zoo's clinic June 10. He and zoo staff were starting to restrain the reptile for a medical examination.
During an almost three-hour operation at UAB Hospital, Cook's fractured lower leg was mended with a metal plate and eight screws.
"I have 70 or 80 percent range of motion in my ankle," he said Tuesday afternoon in his office.
Cook has found an unexpected use for the fold-down seat on the walker that helps him get around. "I use it to carry stuff, like stacks of paper."
The 48-year-old zoo official is sticking close to his office while his leg continues mending. He has not yet been out on the grounds or seen the alligator that bit him.
The accident happened when Cook was stooping in front of the alligator and holding its head to keep its jaws shut. A towel covered the reptile's eyes so it couldn't see what was going on. But suddenly the alligator raised up on its front legs, snapped its jaws onto Cook's right leg and quickly let go.
"I heard the bone snap."
Zoo staff quickly laid Cook on a nearby cart and splinted his leg to immobilize it. Paramedics arrived and took him to the hospital.
He recalled looking down at his leg and feeling reassured when there was no profuse bleeding.
He does not blame the alligator. He says his leg was closer to the reptile's jaws than it should have been.
Besides catching up on paperwork, Cook plans to create a leather and wire muzzle that will be used in the future to restrain alligators.
Zoo official back at work 2 months after alligator bite

This is a clear case of crocodilian mishandling. This large alligator, jaws held shut by Mr. Cook's bare hands, was able to easily swipe its massive head and free it of Cook's hands, and then bite him.

The solution? A snout noose, in case some are not familiar with it, is a stick or pole with a fixed nose on the end. The noose is slipped over the croc/gator's jaws, then the stick is turned until the jaws are clamped shut by the tightened rope/chord. Should the croc/gator laterally swipe its head, the keeper need only to keep a grip on the noose while loosening his/her shoulder joint and thereby 'floating' with it. The keeper is able to stay 'extended' a safe distance from the head while keeping the jaws shut. Not hard at all.

This lack of expertise appears to be common among zoos and animal attractions.
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Israel Dupont
Winter Haven, FL

Curious as to whether that noose pole has ever been used on a larger animal? I sure wouldn't want to hold on to the stick of a 6 foot or larger animal. Having experienced the strength of many a large crocodilian I can safely say I wouldn't use a noose/jaw POLE.
No need to slam people when the full details are rarely given.
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It's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts!

Terry Phillip
Curator of Reptiles
Black Hills Reptile Gardens
Rapid City, SD.

www.reptilegardens.com