croc-a-viper @ sg buloh - march 2014

Spotted an unusual 'S' curve on the water beside a tree through some vegetation. It looked a bit rough. A closer look through the lens confirmed it to be a snake...most likely a mangrove pit viper (a.k.a. shore pit viper). It soon started moving and i saw its head.

This was definitely a pit viper. It must have got caught by the fast rising tide on a low branch and had to take to the water to get to higher wood. It kept swimming to various stems in the water but did not get a snakehold on any of them. After some time on the water surface, it managed to slither up the bark of a small tree. As it moved further up, a small stem with leaves slightly below it moved as well. I did not think that the movement was caused by the snake as it was a rather small snake (about 35 cm long) and was unlikely to cause such movement. 

Looking down, i saw an elongated dark log just below the snake. It had not been there before when the snake had started moving up. I then noticed that the dark log had teeth...very sharp teeth. It was quickly obvious that the snake's swimming on the water surface around the tree had caused a perceptible disturbance which alerted the nearby crocodile to investigate.

The croc eyed the viper for a few seconds before opening its mouth targeting the snake. I had initially assumed that the croc had succeeded in ending the viper's earth time as i could not see any trace of the viper after the croc targeted it. The croc moved away to a nearby rut along the waterline. 

I wondered if the viper could inflict a bite on the croc. The mangrove pit viper is a highly venomous snake after all. 

croc-a-viper from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

(background audio recorded separately on site closeby - dubbed in during editing as mic was switched off during original video recording)

This particular croc is known as the 'Tailless' croc because it was missing its tail after some unfortunate encounter presumably with another croc. 'Tailless' or 'half-a croc' is now one of the larger crocs in the reserve and frequently moves between the main bridge area and the adjacent saltwater pond served by the sluice gate near the main bridge. It was waiting to move from the mangrove into the pond due to the rising tide. Crocs prefer dry land or shallow water to rest in so that they do not have to constantly raise their heads and nostrils above the water to breathe air. They would have to constantly do this if stuck in deeper water.

A few minutes later, I saw the pit viper on a nearby low branch. It appeared fine and must have escaped the croc's jaws. Perhaps there had been a exercise of professional courtesy... between two reptiles with unforgiving personalities. 

Read more about these amazing animals :-

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/reptilia/porosus.htm

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/snakes/purpureomaculatus.htm
and also about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve : https://www.sbwr.org.sg

otters teasing a croc @ sg buloh - march 2014

Was at SBWR observing a Striated Heron run about a small island chasing bugs near a large snoozing reptile with sharp pointy teeth when there was a commotion towards the right. The heron had also stopped in its tracks and looked to the right as if with some concern that the tranquility of the morning was about to be interrupted. I panned right to see some dark slithery shapes crawling up the slope.

These were two smooth-coated otters out for a morning (it was about 7.45am) swim through the reserve. The basking saltwater crocodile immediately sprang to life doing a 180' in a split micro-second snapping at one of the otters when it came too close to it.  Otters and crocodiles do not share a cordial relationship and frequently gnash teeth at each other.

The two otters, with the smaller one doing most of the work, taunted the crocodile (guesstimate at slightly over 2 m long) repeatedly. Both otters kept 'barking' at the crocodile whilst moving around the crocodile. The larger (quite obviously a male) otter appeared to keep a slightly wider minimum distance from the crocodile as compared to the smaller otter. After getting taunted quite a bit, the crocodile lunged at the closer smaller otter moving about two feet forward in a flash.
otters teasing a croc @ SBWR - March 2014 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

Both otters then decided they had had enough and slinkered off to the far side of the island before disappearing under the water submarining (notice the trail of bubbles appearing under the water) further into the northern corner of the pond leaving the crocodile to resume its siesta.

These two otters were first seen about a month before. They have been seen occasionally visiting various seawater and freshwater ponds in the reserve. They seem especially sensitive to human contact and generally stay away from people. This was unlike another lone otter also occasionally seen in the reserve which seemed relatively unbothered when in close proximity to people. There had been a family of 7 otters (2 adults and 5 pups) in the reserve at the start of the year but this family disappeared shortly after the year started. It is possible that the two otters seen in the clip are from that group of five. If so, one might wonder what happened to the rest of that group. The larger male otter had a noticeable wound on the rear right of its tail near its rear right leg. Perhaps that was received from another close encounter with a crocodile.

Read more about these wonderful animals here :
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/verts/smooth_otter.htm
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/mammals/perspicillata.htm
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/reptilia/porosus.htm
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/Butorides_striatus.htm
and also about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve : https://www.sbwr.org.sg