In the summer of 2005, I was given the opportunity to volunteer with crocodiles at Crocodylus Park, Wildlife Research and Education Centre, Northern Territory, Australia. At the time, I was travelling around Australia and barely had any money left. I really needed to work, but didnt want to miss out on this opportunity. I decided to give it a go until I had no alternative other than to find a job that paid. I was in luck though; a member of staff was soon to take a 6 week trip to England. I jumped at the opportunity to step in for him, the job was mine!
Crocodylus Park is dedicated to crocodile research and conservation. The forefront of the Park houses around 1000 crocodiles, as well as big cats, kangaroos, monkeys, hawksbill turtles and many other animals. Behind the scenes lies another 7000 saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) which are either captive bred or captive raised, for use of their skin, skeletal structure and meat. The crocodiles are raised in pens until they reach around 1.6m, at which time they are moved into individual cages. They are left in these for around a year for their belly scales to reach optimum condition. At around 3-5 years old, they are culled.
My feelings about croc farming have always been fairly mixed, but I do agree with the idea. Since croc farming has been in place, and the hunting of wild crocodiles banned, the population has risen to over 100000 wild individuals. It has also given opportunities to hundreds of Australian people, including native Aboriginal people who are paid for the collection of eggs on their land.
It was hard at first to involve myself in the culling of crocodiles, but I was already involved just by working there. Every step taken in the park is to ensure the the crocodiles are healthy and have as near to perfect body condition as possible. Most farms do this for one main purpose; their skin, meat and skeletal pieces. Crocodylus Park is at the forefront of crocodile research, and supports this research by farming. I cannot blame the farmers for doing what they do, for they are simply supplying the huge demand. If farms were not in place, the black market would be enormous and Crocodylus porosus would most probably be extinct. If anyone is to blame, it would be the end consumer, and all the while they buy crocodile in one form or another, crocodiles will be killed for them.
My daily tasks involved maintaining around 7000 crocodiles behind the scenes, out of the public eye. Food preparation was hardly a light task with a tonne of food prepared several times a week. This included a mixture of shark, kangaroo, horse, chicken and chicken heads, heart and various supplemental vitamins, minerals and sometimes medication. The different sized crocodiles would have different grades of food minced up, and different percentages of the various foods available to them. Shark is full of protein and is given to the Park for little or no cost, so it is a very good food item to include in their diet. However, juvenile crocodiles do not take to shark very well, and are weaned onto it with age, receiving a higher percentage as time progresses.
The crocodiles have to be counted and sorted on a regular basis. This is to keep track of numbers and allow crocodiles of the same size to be housed together. Within a matter of 6 weeks, a juvenile crocodile could double the size of a less fortunate sibling. By constantly monitoring the sizes of crocodiles kept together, it allows the slower growing individuals a better chance of feeding and less chance of being bullied. Crocodiles are vicious predators, and will not stop for another crocodile if they are in their way.
After a matter of weeks, I had handled literally thousands of juvenile crocodiles, from just 30cm up to 1.8m. Every time I had to get in the pens, my adrenalin began to flow. Not enough though! I would not leave that park without getting a chance with the big guys!
Soon after mentioning this to my boss, I was in the breeder pens defending the grounds-keeper against 16ft aggressive male crocs with a 3metre steel pole in my hands! I can tell you, the last thing on my mind was protecting the bloke with the strimmer, that pole was for me and for me only! I had seen these crocodiles in action all the time at the park and even in the wild, but being a metre away from a big male, launching out the water at amazing speed, was certainly the adrenalin rush I hoped for!
The park had an interesting tactic for protection; we would purposely hit the pole in the water and on the ground, attracting the attention of the crocodiles. There were 2 of us in the pens with poles; one for the male and the other for the female. Once they came out, we would fend them off back into the water and they would unlikely attack again. If we went in quietly and tried to cut the grass, the crocodiles would sneak to the waters edge and lunge without notice. Our method, although it meant we used the pole a lot more, was far safer.
Working in such heat was a serious work out every day. None of the blokes working outside were un-fit, and if they were they hid it very well! The temperature while I was working there was averaging about 30-34˚C every day, and that was in the dry season. In the wet season, the humidity rises and the temperature is still into the mid 30s. This only made it more fun though, after all, I need to work off all that drink I was consuming while in Darwin!
During my time at Crocodylus Park I learnt so many things. I was doing post-mortems on deceased juvenile crocodiles, learning how and why they died. I learnt about the effect man had on wild crocodiles over the centuries, and the impact that crocodile farming has had on the wild population. I learnt about various diseases and treatments associated with water living reptiles. I was taught how to properly catch, handle, examine and transport crocodiles from hatchlings up to 2metres in length. The thing that most interested me however, is how similar crocodiles are to a wide range of lizard species common in the pet trade. These characteristics were far more noticeable in hatchlings and juveniles. Their feeding habits and sheer excitement over food was remarkable. The way they sit and wait, hoping not to be spotted, but when they are they run away into the water at lightning speed. The way they blow themselves up and hiss, much like many lizards. They even send out warning signals when they are caught, crocodiles are believed to do this to attract the attention of their mothers. Many lizards also do this, but perhaps more as a deterrent for the predator rather than a warning call to their parents. Some species of crocodilian can even be tamed; the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is a prime example.
I have come away from the park with a huge respect for these creatures, and respect for the people who dedicate their lives to keeping and researching them. It is a hard job, and only seriously interested hobbyists will last long in the game.
Published in Reptile Care Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 4.
For more information about Crocodiles and crocodile farming, please visit www.petclubuk.com
By Chris Jones
Director of Pet Club UK Ltd.
http://www.petclubuk.com
