Discoveries of a Crocodile Man

Tony (A.C.) Pooley was a founder member of the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group and made key contributions to the study and conservation of Nile crocodiles. In 1982 he published an autobiographical account of his career to that point (now long out of print), describing how a childhood passion for birds and snakes developed into an international career in crocodile conservation. In this book Tony describes the challenging early days of crocodile conservation in South Africa with a forthright commitment and dedication to conservation, but also great sensitivity to the natural world, and empathy with the humans affected by the conservation of large predators. This book is the story of Tony's struggle to learn more about the much maligned and secretive Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), including observing and documenting important aspects of crocodile reproductive behaviour. It also recounts his efforts to convince the authorities and the public of its right to survive in the continent's protected waterways, and some of his international travels in the service of crocodile conservation including the early days of the Crocodile Specialist Group. Along the way, the reader learns a great deal about crocodile biology and behaviour, the ecological relations of crocodiles with their fellow creatures, and gains insights into the lost world of Zululand in the 1950s-70s, both ecologically and socially. This 2nd edition, first discussed with his son Simon (editor of this edition) shortly before his death in 2004, includes entirely new photographs and illustrations, sourced from Tony's personal collection. There is an introduction by Simon providing further biographical information and historical context, and a brief afterword about Tony's career after the first book was published in 1982. There are appendices on name changes, and an update on the status of Nile crocodiles in the region.