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Scott W · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:17 am Post subject: Croc rips off vets arm!

(taken from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2007-04/13/content_850086.htm)

Zoo worker has arm reattached after crocodile attack
(AP)
Updated: 2007-04-13 10:48

TAIPEI -- Surgeons reattached a Taiwanese zookeeper's forearm Thursday after a 200-kilogram (440-pound) Nile crocodile chomped it off and colleagues recovered the limb from the reptile's mouth, an official said.

The male crocodile severed Chang Po-yu's forearm on Wednesday at the Shaoshan Zoo in the southern city of Kaohsiung when the veterinarian tried to retrieve a tranquilizer dart from the reptile's hide so he could give it medication, zoo officials said.

The forearm was reattached following seven hours of surgery on Thursday.

The Liberty Times newspaper said Chang failed to notice that the crocodile was not fully anesthetized when he stuck his arm through an iron rail to medicate it.

The 17-year-old reptile is one of a pair of Nile crocodiles kept by the Kaohsiung zoo.

Known as a man-eater because of its voracious nature, the crocodile is listed as an endangered species, and is rapidly disappearing from its native African habitat.

As Chang was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday, a zoo worker shot two bullets at the crocodile's neck to retrieve the forearm, said Chen Po-tsun, a zoo official.

"The crocodile was unharmed as we didn't find any bullet holes on its hide," Chen said. "It probably was shocked and opened its mouth to let go of the limb."

Chen said the zoo purchased the crocodile 10 years ago from a local resident who had kept it as a pet.

A police officer prepares to shoot a crocodile at a zoo in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung April 11, 2007

A crocodile at a zoo in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung holds the forearm of a zoo veterinarian in between its teeth, April 11, 2007
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Scott W · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:27 am Post subject:

The guy's lucky the croc didn't swallow it, no chance of reattaching it then.
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Jackie · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject:

I read about this yesterday and it's just been on the lunchtime news. It's taken surgeons 7 hours to reattach the vet's arm. They shot at the crocodile just to startle it so he would drop the arm - apparently he's ok (just a bit hungry I would imagine.... Laughing

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Mememe · Site Moderator Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 2141

I have to say though, not checking thoroughly to see if a huge croc is fully anaesthetised is pretty careless IMO. Not saying he deserved it - a finger would have been more justified Laughing

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Gimpy · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject:

I just love that really satisfied look on the crocs face! Laughing

And yea how careless can you be, I mean really...

SteveL · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

reports say the zOo owners said the croc was armless before this incident

Laughing

sorry

just shows how powerful these things are and it was purchased from a local resident wtf?!? Rolling Eyes

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Mememe · Site Moderator Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 2141

Just saw a report on ITV, showed the croc being shot. They used a hand gun, and I think they fired two shots with a pistol before it spat it out. Apparently, they just grazed the croc.

Smile

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Geordiegirl · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject:

Well I bet he'll always make sure the animal is properly under before trying to give medication in the future.
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minno · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject:

apparently they had told the keeper than he had been put 2 sleep for him to do a check up lol how much of a practical joke gone wrong is that?!?!?!?