Many thanks to our friends, David and Tyna white from Solar Whisper Daintree River Cruises for this weeks update from the World Heritage Daintree River and Rainforest.

The mature female crocodile Elizabeth has had her 6 little hatchlings constantly with her lately but unfortunately despite her protection one of them has died. Lizzie, as she is known to her friends, was seen with the little one in her mouth but it's unlikely that she killed it, it's more likely she was trying to wake it up and it had died from another predator's attack because she didn't actually eat it.

David collected it from the water and has sent it off to the local ranger to see if they can determine the cause of death.  It is only at this stage of their lives, as hatchlings, that a crocodile is susceptible to attack from other predators. Once it has grown from hatchling to juvenile, it would only really be prone to attack by another croc because it strayed into an inhabited territory unwittingly or carelessly and upset the resident male or nesting female. Once it has grown to maturity it is the hunter not the hunted except for the odd 'punch-up' again over who's 'King of the castle' when territory is up for grabs.

David and Tina also report that they have been taking cruisers to view an incredibly cute and vulnerable Blossom Bat in an Apple Mangrove where he sleeps not far from the bright red nocturnal flowers.  These gorgeous little bats hang in palms, bamboos, mangroves, and trees in rainforests. 

They usually roost alone or in small groups under loose bark, within hollows or among leafy crowns and leaf bases of which the Daintree is the ideal location. They feed mainly on nectar and pollen from the flowers of eucalyptus, paperbarks, bottlebrushes, lilli pillies and mangrove trees. They will also eat fruit and possibly leaves but this lucky one has the nectar of the mangrove Apple to keep him happy.

For more details visit Solar Whisper website or give David and Tina a call on Ph: (07) 4098 7131 or Mob: 0439 983 140