There are days when I stare at a blank screen trying to drum up ideas to write something. And then there are days when I just jump out of bed and hurriedly start my computer up and panic that the idea might disappear as the seconds tick before I can get a blank Word Document up.
So yeah, last Sunday was a great day for someone like me to take inspiration from today.
And everything about Sunday’s events leading up to today seemed to line up perfectly for me to come up with that brilliant title you see on this blog article. Yeah, yeah, yeah I take a lot of pride in that because I was so amused with how I was able to connect all 5 into 1 thing.
Let’s Start with My Least Favorite Topic: Online Combat
If there’s anything I detest most these days, it’s fighting online on social media.
I just find it such a waste of time but some people do seem to enjoy it a lot. I detest it but I also respect that people need a platform to express their ideas and communicate with others.
How they choose to do it is beyond my control.
And instead of just dwelling on hating it, I’ll take some inspiration from it to get some writing done.
Anyway, so my wife got into it with Philippines Herpetology about the use of crocodiles to depict corrupt congressmen in the Philippines and why we shouldn’t use crocodiles to symbolize them.
Oh they had a heated conversation about conservation to my consternation which erupted into a constellation of convoluted communications and…. Ok I think I’m having way to fun with this for my own good.
Let’s just say they had a difference in opinions.
Amd he bit off more than he could chew.
And he got his ear chewed out.
Oh I wouldn’t want to be him.
So yeah, I don’t like it but I choose to respect everyone’s right to speak their minds.
No I didn’t join in on their debate. I didn’t even coach.
I was more content being a spectator.
I just feel sorry for Philippines Herpetology… he/she has some great ideas but that one just wasn’t the best one at that time.
Congressmen/Crocodilian Comparisons
Ever since as far as I can remember, crocodiles have been synonymous to corruption. Thus the term “corrupt politician” = “buwaya” or “crocodile”.
I think it’s an unfair symbolism because crcodiles aren’t inherently greedy. Sure they eat large amounts of food but that’s because they are massive creatures.
And they do share with others especially if it’s a large animal they’re eating.
If you rewatch those old nature documentaries, you’ll see that some will hold the carcass down while others do the death roll to bite off a chunk of meat before swallowing it.
Crocodiles are beautiful creatures. I could spend hours just observing them as they bask on the bank or swim lazily in a body of water.
I can’t say the same for corrupt politicians. Sure, some do look like crocodiles but that’s a bit prejudiced on my part because I’m judging them because of the way they look or how their skin looks like scales.
Hey wait… could the connection between crocodiles and corruption stem from the thick skin “politicians” seem to evolve over their tenure?
Maybe?
Hmmm that’s something to think about later… I’m just rambling.
I really don’t enjoy talking about politics but the topic is inescapable these days because of the DPWH scandal.
I know some people are wishing that the houses of those corrupt congressmen get flooded and hopefully, there’s a crocodile or two in the water with them.
But wouldn’t that be cannibalism?
Oh wait, it doesn’t matter, crocodiles do cannibalize on smaller specimen.
Anyway, do I agree that crocodiles are used to symbolize corruption?
No, I don’t.
But in communication, we use the vehicles that float our ideas faster to our audience. The idea of crocodiles being greedy is already accepted by the masses and using them as a symbol for corrupt congressmen brings the idea that something’s wrong with the Philippines faster to the people.
It serves its purpose.
I just hope that more people also actively educate the masses that actual crocodiles, not the ones adorned with expensive jewelry or sporting luxurious vehicles are wonderful creatures that serve a purpose in our ecosystem.
And those are the crocodiles you should respect. You don’t even need to vote for them to respect them.
Conservation Conversations
Crocodiles may have been endangered at one time but these days, things are looking up.
Most crocodilian species have made a massive comeback.
I’m not saying they’re out of hot water yet.
The Philippine crocodile, Orinoco, Siamese, and Cuban crocodiles are still listed as Critically endangered and will probably remain on that list for a few more decades until we step up our conservation efforts a notch.
How do we do that?
Continued education on the animal and more exposure through whatever media platforms are available.
Them being compared to corrupt politicians may seem like negative publicity to some but only if no one steps up to explain the truth about crocodiles.
Much like what I’m trying to do here.
I have a small audience. In that audience, I may have some who are not fully educated about crocodiles. These are the people my current topic targets.
I’m not trying to erase the symbolism of crocodiles and corruption. Instead, I’ll build on that and add the concept of conservation of crocodiles as a species and hopefully expand my audience’s knowledge on the animal as worth respecting and conserving.
Here in Davao City, we have the Crocodile Park which I’ve talked about in the past. Here’s that article: How to Enjoy Davao Crocodile Park
In that park, there are thousands of crocodiles used as an attraction for people to enjoy. Some perform tricks. Some are just there for show like the recently deceased Pangil.
While others are just housed in large enclosures waiting for their ultimate fate which may be to provide materials for the skin trade or meat.
I can say that it is very highly unlikely for me to support crocodile skin products. Highly unlikely but not impossible in the future.
And after having had one taste of crocodile burger, probably not going to eat one again in the near future.
But those are my personal feelings about crocodiles used as commodities.
I understand that there is a demand for these products, skin and meat, and I know that through the efforts of conservation sanctuaries like the Davao Crocodile Park, the demand is somewhat met.
It’s barbaric to think that we have to sacrifice one animal to possibly save ten or twenty others. But if that’s the cost of conservation and there is no other way that anyone has thought of yet, wouldn’t you take that route as well?
I hope we find a better way to conserve crocodilians and I hope we find that solution now.
I would still like my son to enjoy the sight of a Gharial in the future. Hopefully in the wild.
And hopefully he also develops that respect for wildlife that I am trying my hardest to instill in him while he is still young.
Chef Hannah Granado’s Massive Chocolate Crocodile Cake
As soon as I saw that post on September 21, I knew I was going to write about it.
After all, as an animal blogger, I am supposed to find interesting animals or things about animals and write about it.
When Lolong was still alive, they were also making crocodile inspired goods in Agusan.
I never thought I’d see a 16-foot, 250 pound crocodile inspired cake.
But there it was.
And it wasn’t only me who saw it.
The entire Davao City saw it.
Heck, I think the entire Philippines saw it too.
And that cake deserves that amount of attention because of the dedication and hard work the chef and her crew put into it.
Kudos to Chef Hannah Granado and her crew for such an amazing cake!
That cake not only satisfied the hunger of many people but it also raised awareness of corruption in our government and hopefully the increase of conservation efforts based on the beauty of crocodiles.
This is a crocodile that is harmless to approach making those who are terribly afraid of crocodiles feel at ease to go up to it and have their picture taken.
I think it’s done a good job doing what it’s supposed to do, raise awareness about corruption and conservation as well as increase Chef Granado’s popularity as a top-notch chef who deserves everyone’s attention.
Crocodiles
Crcoodiles have been so maligned for a long time that it has become accepted as a norm.
I understand why people are scared of crocodiles.
I too am terribly scared of them.
I remember being in the water with a small 2-foot baby croc and I was out of there as quickly as I got in.
It was a prank a friend pulled on me when he brought his recently acquired baby croc to an outing in Laguna. How he managed to do that I don’t know how. Maybe because they were filthy rich?
Anyway, I have a healthy respect for crocodiles. I do not want to ever be in the water if I know that there’s one within a hundred feet from me.
Those who don’t respect crocodiles end up like this:
Lucky for him he was still able to get out alive.
Anyway, that’s one of the many examples why we should still fear crocodiles. In their environment, they are the apex predator and we are nothing more than items on the food chain that they can choose to devour.
But fear should never equate indiscriminate killing of a magnificent creature that’s important in the environment.
Keep your distance and you should be fine.
Another thing we can do is educate ourselves about these creatures and learn how to support conservation efforts that will increase their numbers in the wild and not just in captivity where there are a huge number kept for commercial reasons.
Maybe someone in the government should think about realigning where some of our taxes go and concentrate on conservation.
Okay, I think I’ve had enough potshots at congressmen and our government.
See you later, alligator!
In a while, crocodile!