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JAWS III
 Vital
Statistics :
Age
: 29 years
Length
: 15 feet, 9 inches
Weight
: 550 to 600 kilograms
Jaws III is the largest saltwater Crocodile, bred in captivity,
in India. It is one of the very few 'large', saltwater Crocodiles
of his species.
Saltwater Crocodiles can grow to a length of 20 feet and weigh
upto a tonne. The rate of growth of the saltwater Crocodile starts
declining after 30 years. The average life span of these Crocodiles
is 50 to 70 years. Jaws III is likely to live for another 20 years.
Though he is unlikely to grow any longer, he will most certainly
become bulkier.
Jaws III was born in a Singapore Zoo, and was brought to Madras
Crocodile Bank (MCB) as a two year old. When he came to MCB,
he was hardly three feet long.
 Saltwater
crocodiles are carnivorous. In the wild they attack, kill and eat
birds, fish and deer. Surprisingly, Jaws III consumes a measly 6
kilograms of meat a week. Saltwater Crocodiles are found in Asian
and Australian waters. They live in fresh water lagoons or brackish
coastal waters. An endangered species in India, they are found in
the Sunderbans.
A little patience is required to sight Jaws III at his exclusive
pit. He is normally reticent, but extremely alert. Saltwater Crocodiles
can run at nearly 48 kilometres per hour. Though Jaws III cannot
move at this speed, (because of his weight), he can move fast if
the need arises.
The Madras Crocodile Bank is anxious to add Jaws III's genes to
its gene pool. But Jaws III seems to have decided otherwise. Two
attempts were made to introduce a female saltwater Crocodile into
Jaws III's pit. On both occasions Jaws III attacked and killed the
smaller female Crocodile.
To avoid a repeat of this, the MCB has divided Jaws III's pit into
two parts, with a chain link fence. They have introduced a female
crocodile into the other side of the pit. It is hoped that, with
daily interaction over a year, Jaws III can learn to tolerate the
female crocodile and accept it as mate.
If this latest effort proves successful, Chennai could boast of
its very own 'Jaws IV'.
| Author: Joseph Pradeep Raj |
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7:36:43 PM 
