I am writing this in response to a criticism of me in a post from a few weeks ago. I had responded to a press clip regarding an Alabama zookeeper who was injured by a large alligator, and someone took exception to my critical analysis of the keeper in question. (You may refer to that thread via the link below). I have only now had a chance to spend the time to write more on the issue.
I do not know what that responder's understanding of the subject is, and it is not my intention to personally criticize him or attempt to read his mind. That would be unfair. I do wish to elaborate on the subject though.
If you, as a crocodilian handler, are injured by a croc, you, or someone on your handling team mishandled it.
Allow me to repeat:
If you, as a crocodilian handler, are injured by a croc, you, or someone on your handling team mishandled it.
Period.
My boldness here is intentional. It is not ment to assert my ego, but rather to present a topic that I have a growing passion for, involving the paradigm shift, or mindset change, among croc professionals, of safe crocodilian handling.
As croc professionals, enthusiasts, and the like, our knowlege of and experience with these animals is growing by bounds. We understand their limitations, their strengths, their measure of unpredictability, their measure of predictability. I do not believe in the mindset that when one captures a croc, one does the best he can and hopes for the best outcome, and if it is unsuccessful, that is, if one is injured or killed, then one just couldn't help it. Out of the handler's control. Bad luck. Whatever.
I am pleased that I work with a group of professional handlers who view crocs as one might view dangerous machinery. If one gets injured or killed handling it, then one did so improperly trained or prepared. It is only the fault of the human(s), who are relatively more intelligent than crocs by fathoms.
The humans actually have the advantage.
At my place of employment, my fellow handlers and I handle crocodilians of every size and species range, in close proximity, often in DIRECT hand-to-scales physical contact, many times per day, every day of the year. There are ever present concerns of morality (safety), legal liability, profit loss, insurance expense, et al.
Our team of handlers have procedures down to a science. We have to. No choice. You get bitten -- you risk having your employment terminated, as there is no excuse for being injured (unless someone else on your team is at fault). Knowing the animal and its abilities is paramount to devising procedure for capture and restraint. There is the swipe radius, the spin radius, techniques for driving, steering, baiting, stopping, et al. There is a very important and simple concept called 'abort.' Summed up, in my view, safe handling is intelligence, followed by soundness of mind. And I do believe the two are distinct.
Does this mean I, for instance, who am writing this, will never be injured? Of course not. I am human, and I may one day fail to have my required duration of a night's sleep or dosage of coffee one morning, or be grumpy and distracted by an argument I had the night before with my girlfriend, and make a foolish choice while handling.
It is not my intention to write a Policy & Procedure Handbook here, but to raise the issue more clearly than I did in the above-mentioned earlier post. That is, that one must accept that it is incumbent upon the handler to A)Garner the intelligence, and; B)Make wise choices. If a handler is bitten, he failed to carry out both A) and B).
As for the snout noose pole I had mentioned, I am referring to a shorter-type stick (approx. 24" to 36" in length) with a rope or chord affixed to the tip, which is slipped over the snout, then turned so as to tighten the rope/chord onto the snout. If the croc shakes its head violently, that is not necessarily a problem, depending on the abilities of the handler. The technique of 'floating' may be employed here. This involves loosening the shoulder and floating with the head movement -- a refined, physical technique that is very effective. Another, for restraining the head of an alligator, is the frontal hand catch, including a follow-through with the leg bracing. A refined technique. Very effective.
Intelligence & Choice = safe handling. Choice is relative to intelligence.
If, tomorrow, you read a press clip posted here about me having my arm torn off by a large alligator, someone please post a message stating that I mishandled it, so that many of the individuals who frequent this post and have a passion to learn to improve their own practices or to become new members of the croc handling community, understand the responsibility that comes with that passion.
Did I mention that I was passionate about this subject?
I invite your comments and criticism. Lively discussion never hurts. Thank you.
Link
-----
Israel Dupont
Winter Haven, FL
