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CNN Sunday Morning
Crocodile Hunter
Aired November 16, 2003 - 09:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: In Hong Kong all attention has been turned on a classic battle between man and beast. The government has turned to a real life crocodile hunter in attempt to capture one reclusive reptile. Andrew Brown reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the airport they treated him like a croc star. John Lever, an Australian crocodile hunter, arrived in Hong Kong Thursday to begin what promises to be a difficult and dangerous mission. Lever has told the local media he plans to wrestle this 1.2-meter reptile into submission with his bare hands. The crocodile has been at large since it was first spotted in the Yuen Long neighborhood more than ten days ago. Lever is ready to risk his reputation going after it.
JOHN LEVER, AUSTRALIAN CROCODILE HUNTER: I shall be very embarrassed if I don't catch this crocodile.
BROWN: Late Thursday, Lever raced to the riverbank in Yuen Long where the croc was last seen. He was pursued by dozens of reporters.
What do you think is going through the mind of the crocodile now?
LEVER: Nothing much. Crocodiles don't have much of a brain. That crocodile out there would have a brain about that big.
BROWN: That's big enough to outwit the Hong Kong government. Officials have set baited traps, but after sniffing around the traps the cunning croc disappeared again.
LEVER: One this size can go under water and stay under water for up to three quarters of an hour.
BROWN (on camera): Who could blame the croc for wanting to remain under water, though? The surface of this stream is full of floating refuse, discarded bottles, bits of polystyrene, and it smells.
BROWN (voice-over): Undaunted, Lever set out across the water Friday night to catch the croc. He's not the first Australian croc hunter risking life and limb overseas. In the movie "Crocodile Dundee" Hollywood featured another hero from the outback and his adventures in New York.
BROWN: The kids are certainly having fun this time. Residents of Yuen Long are thrilled to have a real-life Crocodile Dundee on their doorstep and are eager to see what, if anything, he can find in these murky waters.
Some local people have christened the croc Gucci after the fashion house that sells crocodile-skin bags. Lever seems to share their passion for reptile luggage, but the plan is to keep Gucci alive in a wildlife sanctuary if the croc is ever caught.
Andrew Brown, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 16, 2003 - 09:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: In Hong Kong all attention has been turned on a classic battle between man and beast. The government has turned to a real life crocodile hunter in attempt to capture one reclusive reptile. Andrew Brown reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the airport they treated him like a croc star. John Lever, an Australian crocodile hunter, arrived in Hong Kong Thursday to begin what promises to be a difficult and dangerous mission. Lever has told the local media he plans to wrestle this 1.2-meter reptile into submission with his bare hands. The crocodile has been at large since it was first spotted in the Yuen Long neighborhood more than ten days ago. Lever is ready to risk his reputation going after it.
JOHN LEVER, AUSTRALIAN CROCODILE HUNTER: I shall be very embarrassed if I don't catch this crocodile.
BROWN: Late Thursday, Lever raced to the riverbank in Yuen Long where the croc was last seen. He was pursued by dozens of reporters.
What do you think is going through the mind of the crocodile now?
LEVER: Nothing much. Crocodiles don't have much of a brain. That crocodile out there would have a brain about that big.
BROWN: That's big enough to outwit the Hong Kong government. Officials have set baited traps, but after sniffing around the traps the cunning croc disappeared again.
LEVER: One this size can go under water and stay under water for up to three quarters of an hour.
BROWN (on camera): Who could blame the croc for wanting to remain under water, though? The surface of this stream is full of floating refuse, discarded bottles, bits of polystyrene, and it smells.
BROWN (voice-over): Undaunted, Lever set out across the water Friday night to catch the croc. He's not the first Australian croc hunter risking life and limb overseas. In the movie "Crocodile Dundee" Hollywood featured another hero from the outback and his adventures in New York.
BROWN: The kids are certainly having fun this time. Residents of Yuen Long are thrilled to have a real-life Crocodile Dundee on their doorstep and are eager to see what, if anything, he can find in these murky waters.
Some local people have christened the croc Gucci after the fashion house that sells crocodile-skin bags. Lever seems to share their passion for reptile luggage, but the plan is to keep Gucci alive in a wildlife sanctuary if the croc is ever caught.
Andrew Brown, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
