No crocodile-hunting experience necessary

Crikey, mates, look who’s chasing crocs! No, not Steve Irwin, that Aussie bloke who hosts “The Crocodile Hunter.” It’s Jeff Corwin, that American dude who hosts “The Jeff Corwin Experience” on Animal Planet.

Aside from the differences in accents and outfits (Irwin wears a dark khaki ensemble; Corwin gallivants around in an impossibly clean blue shirt and light khaki shorts), you could be forgiven for confusing the two. Especially on tonight’s installment of “The Jeff Corwin Experience,” part of Animal Planet’s “It’s a Wonderful Jeff Week” featuring new episodes at 8 every night this week.

Tonight’s premiere finds the charismatic Corwin in Uganda, on the banks of Lake Victoria and the Nile River. “It’s a place where conflicts between human beings and crocodiles have reached its zenith, and unfortunately, we’re getting casualties on both sides,” he says, stating that his goal is to work with other naturalists to catch the creatures and assess whether the crocs should be relocated.

It’s a classic tale of necessity forcing humans to encroach into the habitats of wild animals, which naturally want to defend their turf and food supplies. And with Uganda’s population expected to double in the next 20 years, Corwin says, the problem will only get worse.

The locals’ solution is to kill the crocodiles, but Corwin wants to find another way to resolve the conflict. In the process, he interviews Ugandans who have lost limbs and loved ones in attacks.

At times, Corwin can seem very much an outsider, sometimes almost patronizing. Yet he retains his likability throughout, exuding boyish charm especially as he is distracted by other animals, including a couple of snakes and the playful inhabitants of a chimp sanctuary. The chimps, it must be said, have weaker bladders than those of the dogs on “The Osbournes”; but in stark contrast with that show, the worst thing Corwin exclaims during the hairiest of moments is “Shoot!”

Unfortunately, Corwin doesn’t reach much of a conclusion in this adventure, other than that crocodiles clearly deserve respect. But the beautiful shots of scenery and wildlife, and Corwin’s engaging presentation, make the journey worthwhile.