Crocodile stuff you may not know
View(s):Herpatologist Dr. Anselm de Silva launched his new book ‘The Crocodiles of Sri Lanka’at the World Crocodile Conference held last month. Published here are extracts from the section on folklore and the crocodile
Reptiles have played a significant role in Sri Lankan culture, and continue to do so even today. Beliefs regarding the activities of reptiles impact the daily lives of many people. For instance, the belief that cobras either protect or take revenge is widely held in Sri Lanka. This conviction is so deep rooted that even today many, even the educated, fear to harm or kill a cobra for fear of retaliation, especially as the cobra is also considered a divine animal or a reincarnation of a departed family member (de Silva, 1972).
Another widely held belief concerns vocalisation, defecation and other behaviour of geckos; such activity warns of either good or misfortune. If a gecko cries on leaving their house on a journey, many people may stay back awhile or even postpone the trip, as it would be considered a warning of some impending misfortune to that particular person (de Silva, 2010). Although some of the beliefs may appear strange, they have probably helped in the conservation of these animals.
The following various beliefs, cultural traditions, proverbs and folk tales in relation to crocodiles in Sri Lanka were collected during a survey on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of people concerning crocodiles (de Silva, 2011a), surveys on human-crocodile conflict (de Silva, 2009; de Silva, 2011b), from Buddhist priests, village elders, traditional snakebite physicians, sorcerers and astrologers and from published literature (de Silva, 2011c).
Beliefs based on the behaviour of crocodiles
Some of the beliefs listed below suggest that people have observed the behaviour of crocodiles from ancient times.
- Stroking or tickling the belly of a crocodile induces it to release a victim caught in its jaws. See below for more details and the folktale concerning this belief.
- Crocodiles lay 800-1000 eggs and the mother feeds on the hatchlings. As regards the large number of eggs, there are two possibilities; one could be that the ancients would have assumed that it could be the number of eggs laid during its entire life time or one would have seen a communal nesting site. It is of interest to note here that a similar view is documented in many traditional books on snakebite management for the cobra (Naja naja) which is supposed to lay 240 eggs (Perera, 1876; de Silva, 1972). It is not clear whether the number of eggs supposedly laid is for each clutch or during the animal’s complete lifetime. It is, however, a well-established fact how crocodile eggs are taken into the mouth and opened gently by the female who transports the hatchlings in her mouth for release into safe waters. People who have observed this maternal activity may have assumed that the crocodiles were feeding on their hatchlings.
- Crocodiles feed on flies that settle when the mouth is open. This belief would have originated from the common habit of crocodiles keeping their mouths open when basking in the sun, to aid thermoregulation. According to Richardson, Webb and Manolis (2000) crocodilians often open their mouths, allowing the brain to cool through evaporative cooling, while the rest of the body is heating. This “mouth-gaping” posture is however, also a behavioural display, used even at night, and even when it is raining.
- The crocodile’s jaw locks when something is bitten. Perhaps the visible positioning of the teeth and the virtually non releasing bite and the slow reflexes in opening the mouth once a prey is held would have given rise to this idea. Crocodile teeth are conical and designed to penetrate and hold.
Crocodiles swallow mud or clay.
Crocodiles are said to come ashore, roll mud or clay into a ball, look at the sun for awhile and then look at the lump of mud or clay which now appears like a piece of red flesh, which they then swallow. In fact, it is well known that crocodiles do swallow mud, clay and stones. Tennent (1861) reports observing several small tortoises, broken bricks and gravel in the stomach of a dead crocodile. During a survey conducted by the author on scat analysis, several crocodile stool samples examined, from different parts of the country, contained mainly clay and small pebbles. According to Richardson et al., (2000) these gastroliths appear to help digestion and also control buoyancy in water – functioning as hydroliths.
6. Crocodile teeth have a slimy substance on them that make wounds fester and delays healing.
It is well known that certain wild animals that feed on decomposing carcasses (e.g. Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) have highly pathogenic oral bacteria that can cause severe toxic reactions that may even culminate in death (Montgomery et al., 2002). During our survey of crocodile bite in the country of 131 cases … ( %) reported that slimy matter was oozing from bite wounds for quite a long period (de Silva 2010).
7. Certain sayings (proverbs) refer to the strength of a crocodile.
‘Kimbulata godadi eth ban dekai – wathuredi eth ban dahayai’ (= the crocodile has the strength of 2 elephants on land and the strength of 10 elephants in water).
8. Given food, the crocodile will not be aggressive; however, if molested it will be aggressive.
9. Crocodiles can only see ahead.
10. Crocodiles have four eyes, and there are bezoars inside their head that can neutralize poison (Clark, 1901; Simon, 1954).
11. Crocodiles have no joints in their backs and cannot turn easily (Clark, 1901).
12. The Sinhalese believe that crocodiles can move swiftly only on sand or smooth clay, as their feet are too tender to tread on hard or stony ground.
13. Crocodiles feign death (Clark, 1901).
It is well known that many species of reptiles feign death. Tennent (1861) gives an interesting account of a Mugger crocodile feigning death. Recently (July 2010) a mugger measuring about 2.5 m when captured by the Wildlife authorities had not reacted to physical stimulation such as prodding. However, when released into a river it had immediately swum away.
14. Crocodile tears – it is believed that when the crocodile gulps down fish and if by accident a hatchling crocodile is swallowed it will cry. This belief would have possibly risen as people would have observed ‘tearing’ (expelling excess salt from the salt glands. See below under proverbs about ‘crocodile tears’.
Beliefs associated with crocodile bites and their traditional treatment
1. The bed of a crocodile bite victim should be protected by a cloth canopy (called an uduviyana (plural uduviyan) in Sinhala), that extends the full length and breadth of the bed.
This is done in the belief that if a gecko defecates on the body of a person injured by a crocodile it will have disastrous effects, including death. In this regard investigations have not been conducted regarding possible bacterial infections if a gecko excreta does indeed fall on a crocodile bite wound. Some believe that the victim should be protected by an uduviyana for 3 months. See below for the folktale concerning this belief.
2. A crocodile attack victim should be taken into their room on a pavada: a traditional floor covering of white cloth that is laid out for religious or lay dignitaries to walk on, akin to a red carpet. This should be laid from the main entrance of the house right up to the victim’s bedroom.
3. It is common for the family members of crocodile bite victims to make a vow to a particular deity or at a favoured shrine requesting a quick and uneventful recovery.
4. Family members of crocodile attack victims are known to consult astrologers to learn whether recovery from injuries will be uneventful; or when the victim has been taken away by the animal, whether the body will be recovered.
5. Pirith chanting (Buddhist invocations) by Buddhist monks is a common practice among Buddhists during the time of treatment. This is done as a protection against evil spirits and for a quick recovery.
6. Hanging a piece of iron on the bitten arm or leg is considered protection against witchcraft.
7. One should urinate immediately when bitten by a crocodile. Urination on jellyfish stings is practised in some parts of Sri Lanka.
8. Many crocodile bite victims have informed the author that some wounds took a long time to heal, and that a slimy substance oozed from them. This they attributed to an enemy’s charm known as visha bandeema or binding poison, used to ensure that the wounds will not heal. This is also a common belief in cases of snakebite (de Silva, 2009).
9. Crocodile bites can cause leprosy (Clark, 1901; Simon, 1954).
Traditional uses for crocodile carcasses
1. Crocodile flesh is considered good for the treatment of asthma and anaemia.
Here it is of interest to note that only a few years back researchers have experimentally found that freeze-dried crocodile blood has efficacy for promoting hemoglobin and hematocrit values in iron deficient rats (Siruntawineti, J, et al. 2008).
2. Crocodile flesh improves eye sight.
3. Crocodile skin used as an insole inside the shoe and in contact with the sole of the foot is also considered to improve eye-sight.
4. Crocodile skulls are used as receptacles to prepare medicine for hair loss.
5. Crocodile fat is considered to have medicinal properties, and the meat is an aphrodisiac (Clark, 1901; Simon, 1954).
6. Tennent (1859) records the use of teeth of large crocodiles to carry chunam powder, these are mounted with silver lids. Raven-Hart (1973) too report that teeth from crocodiles of Batticaloa lagoon had been used to as lime-boxes for beetle-chewing.
Dreams associated with crocodiles
Dreaming of crocodiles means problems with enemies, fear from rogues and untold misery (Wettasinghe, 1951).
Proverbs and folktales
1. ‘kimbulagen berunath gedara inna hunagen berenna beha’ (= ‘even if you escape from the crocodile, you cannot escape from its younger brother the gecko at home ( kimbul huna = crocodile gecko or Hemidactylus leschanaulti).
This saying is based on the following folktale:
Once upon a time there were three brothers who were herdsmen and magicians. One day, as their cows were not giving milk, one brother transformed himself into a leopard and attacked the cows. He later tried to attack the other two brothers, who immediately transformed themselves into animals as well: one became a gecko and ran up a tree and the youngest who had the magic books, transformed himself into a crocodile and jumped into the river. They later made up. This folktale forms the basis for the following two beliefs:
1) If someone escapes from a crocodile attack, the crocodile is supposed to say ‘though you have escaped from me, my brother the gecko will kill you’.
A person who escapes a crocodile attack will be killed by a gecko in the home that will defecate on the patient as they sleep.
The practice of installing an uduviyana would have stemmed from the above popular proverb in the country. This belief is deep rooted in some areas. Of the 131 crocodile bite instances investigated during the human-crocodile conflict survey in 2009-2013, 16 victims had been sheltered under uduviyan to protect them from geckos defecating (de Silva, 2010b). The author was fortunate to see at first hand a patient sleeping under an uduviyana in May 2010 (Figure …). I have been informed by some crocodile bite victims that they noticed many geckos coming into the room after the crocodile bite. This may possibly be due to a festering crocodile bite wound attracting flies, and geckos coming to feed on the flies.
2) A crocodile victim can free himself by stroking or tickling the crocodile’s stomach.
The belief is that the crocodile releases the victim as it thinks that the particular individual is trying to steal the magic books inside its abdomen (Simon & Wijayatilake. 1965; Senaveratna, 1936).
2. Kimbula kevwama iwasannaa puluvan, eheth kohila katu enunama ivasanna beha’ (= can endure the crocodile bite – but not the thorns of kohila (Lasia spinosa). These thorns are considered the sharpest in the vegetable world.
3. Kimbulanta kavadada hira dunne (= when was a wedding proposed to a crocodile) or Kimbulanta magul jodu kala wage (= like the arrangement of a wedding for the crocodile or like matchmaking for a crocodile).
This is a common saying, usually by the bride’s people, who liken a hefty and ugly bridegroom to a crocodile. It is based on the folktale of the jackal as matchmaker:
The story goes that once upon a time a jackal wanted to eat an elephant carcass that was across a river, on the other bank. Having no other way of getting across, he persuades a crocodile to take him across on its back in exchange for arranging a marriage from the other side of the river. Spinning various excuses such as ‘the prospective bride’s father was not at home’ or ‘the uncle was away’ he gets himself ferried to and fro repeatedly until the carcass is completely eaten. The jackal then tells the crocodile ‘who gives brides to crocodiles that live in water, anyway’ and runs away.
4. Kimbula kirimeti gilinawa vagei (= like when a crocodile swallows kaolin). When a greedy person finishes what is served by gulping down food whilst looking up so that they can get another plate of rice.
5. Kimbul kandulu halanawa (= shedding crocodile tears). When someone pretends to cry.
Miscellaneous beliefs
1. When entering into crocodile infested waters a person who has previously ingested cat fur will be perceived by a crocodile as a giant.
2. There is a belief that crocodiles get caught easily during the full moon.
3. Eli kumbula – (Eli = albino) – usually when the skin is dry it appears as silvery white. However, albinos are rare. Traditional sorcerers consider albino crocodiles to be the vehicle used by goddess Paththini. Though the author has observed albino cobra, rat snake (Ptyas mucosa maxima), a few other species of snakes and the two species of terrapins (Melanochelys trijuga thermalis and Lissemys ceylonensis), albino crocodiles have not been observed.
4. Eli kumbula is considered to be the king of crocodiles by some villagers (Sisira Kumara Liyanarachchi, personal communication, 1991).
5. Belief that land monitors are born from crocodile eggs (Bhatt, 1946).
Discussion
Some of the beliefs based on folktales may look humorous and stretch the imagination, but others are practical ones, especially when they seem to have originated following observation of crocodile behaviour or personal experience over several centuries.
For instance, it is easy to imagine that someone caught in the jaws of a crocodile in the course of their struggles will have accidentally touched the animal’s abdomen at the very instant the reptile let go for some reason or other. Relating this incident subsequently two unrelated events would have been made out to be cause and effect, giving rise to a story that then becomes, over time, a folktale.
The belief that crocodiles swallow clay is also probably based on observation. Perhaps some of these folktales are also designed to make the observations more interesting so that even children will remember them, passing on traditional knowledge from one generation to another.
Otara concerned about crocs too
CSG Regional Chairman for South Asia and Iran, Mr. de Silva who was also Conference Director presents a copy of his book, ‘The Crocodiles of Sri Lanka’ to Odel Founder and Chief Executive Officer Otara Gunewardene at her office recently. The book was launched at the World Crocodile Conference. Pic by Athula Devapriya
It is not only the welfare of stray dogs that the well-known fashion and lifestyle store, Odel, is concerned about, but also crocodiles.
Among its latest animal welfare activity is a helping hand for a survey on the conservation status of crocodilians across Sri Lanka by expert Anslem de Silva.
This follows close on the heels of support that Odel gave the World Crocodile Conference held from May 20-23 at Negombo along with the 22nd Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC).
The survey that Odel has pledged to support will investigate the conservation status of Sri Lankan crocodiles, Mr. de Silva told the Sunday Times.
The data from the study would be useful in the assessment of crocodiles for the National and Global Red List status, he said, adding that presently many crocodiles are killed and their natural habitats depleted but “we do not know the status of our crocodilians”.
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