Zebedee
Scientists in Australia have found that crocodiles have an inbuilt sat-nav system that allows them to find their way home.
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Using satellite technology, three crocodiles were monitored after being moved up to 250 miles from their territory by helicopter.
Swimming between six and nineteen miles a day, they were able to return home within weeks, researchers at Australia Zoo and the University of Queensland found.
Professor Craig Franklin said the reptiles went to extraordinary lengths to find their way home.
He said: "Crocodiles are more closely related to birds than they are any other reptile so they are possibly using navigation systems similar to birds."
He added that they probably use other factors like the sun, magnetic fields, sight, and smell to navigate their way back to their rivers.
So it seems removing aggressive crocs from tourist hotspots in Australia is pointless.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20070927/twl-homesick-crocs-use-sat-nav-41f21e0_1.html
(Advertisement)
Using satellite technology, three crocodiles were monitored after being moved up to 250 miles from their territory by helicopter.
Swimming between six and nineteen miles a day, they were able to return home within weeks, researchers at Australia Zoo and the University of Queensland found.
Professor Craig Franklin said the reptiles went to extraordinary lengths to find their way home.
He said: "Crocodiles are more closely related to birds than they are any other reptile so they are possibly using navigation systems similar to birds."
He added that they probably use other factors like the sun, magnetic fields, sight, and smell to navigate their way back to their rivers.
So it seems removing aggressive crocs from tourist hotspots in Australia is pointless.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20070927/twl-homesick-crocs-use-sat-nav-41f21e0_1.html