OK, who's going to take away his lawnmower this time? Grumpy crocodile steals machines from park keepers to play with in pool

By Anthony Bond


Grumpy: Elvis the crocodile decides to steal a lawnmower off a worker at the Australian Reptile Park


They are among the most fearsome creatures around, often attempting to eat humans and large wild animals.

But workers at a reptile park in Australia were left amazed today when its grumpiest crocodile decided to steal a lawnmower.

Employees at the Australian Reptile Park, north of Sydney, realised something was wrong when they heard one of the keepers let out a yelp.

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'It's mine': Elvis takes his new toy into his lagoon and keeps guard of it


When they looked up they saw 16-foot giant saltwater crocodile Elvis lunging out of his lagoon at reptile keeper Billy Collett, who attempted to ward off the huge crocodile with his lawnmower.

Tim Faulkner, operations manager at the park, said: 'Before we knew it, the croc had the mower above his head. He got his jaws around the top of the mower and picked it up and took it underwater with him.'

Elvis then kept guard over his new toy, making it clear that it would not be wise for anybody to retrieve it.

Eventually, Mr Faulkner realised he had no other choice but to go back in after the mower.

Interest: Visitors soon gather in amazement to see Elvis next to his new lawnmower

Along with Mr Collett, he devised a devious plan - a life or death plot to snatch the mower back from the cranky 50-year-old croc.

Mr Collett dangled a piece of raw kangaroo meat on the end of a stick at one end of the croc's pool and as the reptile swan towards it, Mr Faulkner made a daredevil leap into the water.

Standing waist deep, he grabbed the mower by its handle and hauled it from the pool and out of the enclosure.

Elvis was clearly annoyed, snapping his jaws in anger. But he did so with fewer teeth as he had lost a few munching on the mower.

Speaking after the daring rescue, Mr Faulkner said: 'He'll calm down eventually. To him this was just big game. He stole our mower and now he thinks he's king.'

For keepers at the park the battle over the lawn mower was a warning that Elvis had to be treated with the greatest respect.

The giant crocodile has a history of cranky behavior and has occasionally lunged at staff before, though this is the first time he has stolen something from one of the workers.

He was initially captured in the northern Australian city of Darwin, where he had been attacking fishing boats.

He was then moved to a crocodile farm, where he proceeded to kill his two crocodile girlfriends.

In 2008, he was moved to the reptile park, where he has enjoyed solitary confinement in his own enclosure.

'When they are the dominant croc, they're just full of testosterone,' Mr Faulkner said. 'He's got his beautiful own yard, he wants to be a solitary creature. He's happy.'


Back to normal: The lawnmower is safely back in the possession of the park keepers, with a grumpy-looking Elvis watching on


Lost items: Australian Reptile Park operations manager Tim Faulkner, left, and reptile keeper Billy Collett with Elvis the crocodiles teeth, which were lost after Elvis bit into the lawnmower


Despite having to give up the lawn mower, Elvis was clearly pleased with himself, Mr Faulkner said.

'He's beaten us today ... he's kingpin. He's going to be walking around with his chest puffed out all day.'

As for the staff at the reptile park?

'I can't lie, the bosses are not going to be happy about the cost of a new lawn mower,' Mr Faulkner said with a laugh.

'(But) we love it. No one's injured ... and when you get scared and it all turns out to be good, it's actually quite enjoyable.'

Park spokesman Libby Bain added: 'He is just about the most unfriendly croc you could wish to meet.'




source:dailymail

One snappy dresser: Crocodile given 'bikini wax' and pedicure ahead of annual mating season

By Leon Watson


This looks like a job you could really get your teeth into.

Staff at a salon Down Under have given a particularly scaly customer a 'bikini wax' and full body exfoliation.

In a bizarre bid to show off their skills to potential new customers, they plucked and pedicured a crocodile.

Now this might sting: Louanne Grasmeder gives the croc a waxing at the Parap Day Spa in Darwin


And just in case you're wondering whether reptiles have hair, there's some on the waxing strip to 'prove' it.

The saltwater beast was borrowed from a crocodile research centre in Darwin, in Australia's Northern Territory, especially for the stunt.

And when it left, it was like a new lady - ready for the rough and tumble of a crocodile mating season.

Louanne Grasmeder, business manager for the Parap Day Spa in Darwin, said: 'Breeding season is just around the corner - and we want her to look her best.

'In the wet season, the male crocodiles are fighting it out over breeding sites and female crocodiles will be extremely territorial.'

Spa staff member Jamillah Allen added: 'The lengths we go for great training.'


Lots of dry skin: The saltwater crocodile has her skin exfoliated by Tianee Collins


Swamped: Staff work on a much-needed pedicure and massage


source:dailymail

I've been tangoed! Crocodile turns orange after chewing through pipe filled with tannins

By Daniel Miller


Nice tan mate: According to owner Tracey Sandstrom, who runs Roaming Reptiles in Melbourne,
Australia Snappy ate part of a filter in his pool which allowed red algae to flourish turning him orange.

Snappy the bad-tempered salt water crocodile got a little more than he'd bargained for when he decided a pipe in his tank would make a tasty meal.

The pampered croc from Melbourne, Australia, turned a bright shade of orange after it turned out to contain tannins produced by a type of red algae.

Owner Tracey Sandstrom from Roaming Reptiles believes Snappy had chewed through a filter a few weeks earlier which caused the algae to flourish.

She said: 'I think it caused the pH levels in his water to soar which has led to the change in colour.'

Cranky Snappy, who sleeps in his own heated pool at night and is 2.6m long, became infamous after biting Tracey during a reptile show last year.

She is now looking to sell him as he has become too dangerous for her to handle.

She added: 'He's the prettiest croc I've got, and he's such a lovely animal ... apart from that time, he's been quite predictable.'

Crocked: Bad-tempered Snappy now has a bright orange tan to match his fiery temperament


The salt-water croc has no one to blame for his colour transformation but himself


source:dailymail

We're going to need a bigger paddling pool: Meet Cassius Clay the world's biggest captive crocodile

By Jessica Satherley


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Brave keepers: George Craig (left) and Toody Scott (right) watch over Cassius Clay the croc at Marineland Melanesia on Green Island in Australia as his pool is drained


As the name suggests, he is a powerful heavyweight with a bit of bite.

But this Cassius Clay will not be going into the Guinness Book of Records for his killer uppercut - weighing in at close to a tonne and measuring 18ft in length, he is the biggest captive crocodile in the world.

The saltwater croc is believed to be at least 100-years-old and has lived in Marineland Melanesia on Green Island in Australia, for 24 years.

And this photograph shows the croc’s brave owner George Craig watching over Cassius’s pool being drained so he could be officially measured for the title.


Fellow Marineland Melanesia keeper Toody Scott said he was ‘ecstatic’ about Cassius claiming the record.

He told Cairns.com.au: ‘It confirms our belief that we’ve got the biggest croc, and it’s good that he’s got a bit of recognition for it.’

Cassius was captured in 1984, just south of Darwin, before being transferred to Green Island, which is located 17 miles offshore from Cairns, in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

He was taken into captivity after attacking too many boats in Darwin and was relocated to his current home in 1987.

His diet mainly consists of fish and chickens, which has led to his massive growth over the years.

Old and wise: Cassius is believed to be around 100-years-old and his keeper says he is very wise and knows how to lure people into a false sense of security

Toothy grin: Cassius shows off his sharp teeth as he swims around his enclosure at Marineland Melanisia in the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia


During numerous fights with other crocodiles in his youth, Cassius has been left with scars and even lost his left arm, but Mr Scott says he also has a loving side, when it comes to females.

‘He has shown a bit of an affectionate side with some of the younger female crocs we’ve introduced him to.

‘He’s a little bit old to reproduce, but he really did look after a lot of the other crocs that were in the enclosure with him, to the point where he’d even pinch food from the keeper and take it over to them.’

But despite singing the croc’s praise, Mr Scott says he wouldn’t trust Cassius for a second and admits he is very wise and has a way of luring people into a false sense of security.

Despite Cassius nabbing a spot in the 2012 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records though, a spokesman from the organisation said his glory might be short lived.

The competition: Lolong is now believed to be the biggest croc in the world, measured at 6.4 metres in the southern Philippines


Guinness World Records spokesman Chris Sheedy said that the crocodile’s record may be brief, after reports earlier this month of a 6.4 metre (21ft) aquatic beast that was trapped in the southern Philippines.

The croc, named Lolong, was found in the township of Bunawan, weighs a tonne and is 6.4 metres (2ft) long.

Lolong, who is suspected of killing two people, is now thought to be the biggest crocodile in the world and has caused controversy among animal activists over whether he should be released back into the wild.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) claim the croc is being exploited for money and shouldn’t be kept in captivity, while officials say he needs to be contained for safety reasons.


Green Island lies off the coast of Cairns in north-east Australia




source:dailymail

Snapped up: Villagers capture world's largest crocodile (which weighs one ton and is 21ft long)

By OLIVER PICKUP and RICHARD SHEARS

Giant catch: Mayor Cox Elorde of Bunawan township, Agusan del Sur Province, pretends to measure a huge crocodile which was captured by residents and crocodile farm staff along a creek in Bunawan

It weighs one ton and is believed responsible for eating at least one fisherman, but this monster crocodile has finally been caught by 100 very cautious men.

Measuring 21ft, the massive creature is the largest crocodile captured alive in recent years.

The beast was caught, after a three-week hunt, in a creek in the Philippines by villagers who had lived in fear of it for more than 20 years.


Price haul: Residents use their hands to measure the 21ft salt-water crocodile


Its nearest rival in the monster stakes is Cassius, an Australian salt-water crocodile which measures a 'mere' 18ft - and which is still on the loose in the Northern Territory.

The Philippine crocodile's domain was a river system in Agusan, a poverty-stricken region 500 miles south east of Manila, but while it was a constant threat to villagers no-one was brave enough to try to capture it.


Long tail: Dozens of local residents gather around the animal, which is believed to have killed a fisherman


However, when a village fisherman went missing and the crocodile became the chief suspect, plans were hatched in order to catch it.

It was placed under observation and when it was witnessed by several villagers killing a water buffalo they knew their suspicions were right.


Posing: One of the heavily armed captors touches the beast for the camera

Giant crocodile captured alive in Philippines 21ft long



source: dailymail

The jaws of death: Daredevil wrestler who puts his head into mouth of a crocodile

By Daily Mail Reporter


What a croc: This Thai wrestler shocked crowds with this daredevil stunt


Crowds went snap-happy when this daring Thai wrestler put his head in between a deadly crocodile's razor-sharp teeth.

These amazing pictures show him risking his life in a pit of the fierce reptiles during a spectacular show for tourists in Pattaya city, in southeast Thailand.

As well as prising one of the man-eater's jaws open, the fearless performer kissed a croc on the nose, pulled one's tail and lifted up a small croc to show its belly to the delighted spectators.

Get snappy: The wrestler places a kiss on the croc's nose


One bite from the fierce reptile can crush a human skull and the man-eater can grow up to six metres and weigh up to a ton.

One shocked tourist told The People: 'However much they're paying him, it's not enough'.

Photographer Tom Howell, who was at the Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Park, said: 'The Crocodiles are large, big-toothed and very angry crocs.

'They all look mean and ready to eat someone. Its quite amazing how the Thai performers drag the crocodiles from there pit and make them do stunts.

'At one point he ran and slide across the pit and straight into the jaws of an opened mouthed huge crocodile'.

The Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Park attracts thousands of visitors a year and includes daily shows of men fighting with adult crocodiles bare-hand.

The park breeds its own crocodiles and claims to have the largest population of salt water crocodiles in this country.

Don't slip: tourists look on at the amazing spectacle


Heavy work: The Thai wrestler dangerously holds the crocodile, showing spectators its belly


source:dailymail

Now that’s a holiday snap and a half! Giant crocodile gives tourists a shock as he leaps from water

By Richard Shears


Snap! This monster crocodile sent tourists rearing back as it soared out of the water in Australia to grab a chunk of meat offered on a stick by a ranger


This monster crocodile soared out of the water in northern Australia to grab a chunk of meat offered on a stick by a ranger.

Tourists on the boat, cruising along the Adelaide River near Darwin, reared back as the giant 80-year-old crocodile suddenly leaped up to grab the titbit.

Feeding the crocs is a daily tourist attraction but usually they're much smaller than this 18ft fellow, nicknamed Brutus by rangers who have been aware of his presence over the years.


The picture was taken by Katrina Bridgeford, a photographer with the Northern Territory News, who was on the cruise with sons Jordan, 14, and Dylan, 11.

She recalled that when Dylan saw the massive creature rise out of the water he had only two words to utter - 'Holy crap!'

Brutus is missing his front leg following what is believed to have been a confrontation with a shark in the river's estuary - leaving many people to wonder just how big the shark was.

'When it came up out of the water there were a lot of "Oos" and "Ahs",' said Miss Bridgeford.

'I wasn't expecting anything like this. I couldn't believe how close it got to us.

'If you had put your hand out you would have been able to touch it - if you'd dared.'

Jumping crocodile cruises are a major tourist attraction in the Northern Territory, where the Crocodile Dundee movies, starring Paul Hogan, were shot.

Thousands of the monsters live in waterways around the Darwin region, resulting in the local government erecting signs in tourist areas warning people not to swim or wash their vehicles in the water.

They are also told not to camp near rivers because crocodiles roam up to a mile inland.

Several people have been killed by the reptiles over the years.

Three people were taken by crocodiles in northern Australia in 2009 alone, including an 11-year-old girl who was playing with friends in the Black Jungle Swamp near Darwin.


source:dailymail

Open up sir and make it snappy! Police discover four crocodiles living in bedroom on routine visit to semi-detached house

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Worrying find: Police discovered four West African dwarf crocodiles including this one at the home in Croydon, South London


Police officers visiting a semi-detached house were left stunned when they discovered four crocodiles in a bedroom.

The West African dwarf crocodiles were crammed into makeshift tanks of the home's spare bedroom in Waddon, Croydon, South London.

Officers who were sent to the suburban home on an unrelated matter made the shocking discovery of the reptiles which can take a man's arm off, and called council licensing officers who seized them.

The largest, which measured more than four feet, was in such a bad condition, it died soon after being transferred.

Three of the females measured four feet and were found living in cramped and dirty pond liners.


Moved: The animals were seized, and though one died shortly afterwards the remaining three are living in better conditions at an animal park


The owner of the protected animals did not have a licence for them and is expected to be charged with four counts under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and faces a substantial fine.

It is understood he bought the four female crocodiles from a supplier in this country, although it is not known how they were smuggled into Britain.

The animals have since been transferred to Birdworld in Surrey where they are being fed on white mice and are happily sharing a large pond with terrapin turtles.

The protected animals were rescued by council licensing officers in January and specialists from the City of London veterinary service and were taken to a quarantine facility at Heathrow Airport.


Rescued: One of the female reptiles moments after it was saved by council officers


There is a burgeoning illegal trade in the animals in Europe. They come from West Africa where their numbers are dwindling because they are hunted for bushmeat.

Councillor Simon Hoar, cabinet member for community safety, said: 'This was certainly an unusual find, but it draws attention to the fact that people must follow the rules if they want to own these sorts of pets.

'Not only are there potential risks to the owner and their family, but these animals usually need very specific conditions to be kept healthy.

'This needs a lot of thought and planning. Anyone considering getting something out of the ordinary needs to check the schedule from the Dangerous Wild Animals Act before going any further.'

source: dailymail

Get off my patch... and make it snappy!

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beastly surprise: As the photographer trained his lens on the colourful bird as it drank at an African river, a crocodile and a hippo burst from the tranquil waters straight in front of him


After hours waiting beside an African river, Arnaud Germain thought he finally had the perfect shot of his favourite bird.

But as the wildlife photographer trained his lens on the colourful kingfisher, he got a rather different snap than he was expecting.

All of a sudden, a crocodile and a hippo burst from the tranquil waters straight in front of him, locking jaws in ferocious battle.

Arnaud desperately tried to refocus his camera on the river monsters as they fought on the banks of the Shire River, in the Liwonde National Park, Malawi.


Jaws: The two river monsters tussled for a few minutes as the hippo tried to defend its calf


As these incredible images show he captures the moment the crocodile and hippo clashed in a bloody tooth-on-tooth tussle.

At first it looks like the reptile has the upper hand as its head is almost as large of the hippos but the protective mum, defending a calf, soon proves too strong sending the scaly intruder packing, bloodied and bruised.

And the kingfisher seemed completely unphased by the commotion and stayed on its perch the whole time ready for its close up.


I'm waiting: The kingfisher seemed completely unphased by the commotion and stayed on its perch the whole time ready for its close up


The remarkable sequence of events unfolded on Arnaud's 32nd and last trip to the park and made for a event he would never forget.

Arnaud, 37, who has now moved to Nuneaton, Warks, said the momentous day started like any other morning with no hint of the drama to come.

He said: 'After six years in Malawi and 32 trips to Liwonde National Park, I was on my last game drive.

'It was a beautiful morning of June, the air was cold and crisp, and McLoud Kaliati (my guide and friend) and I were alone in the car.



Worth the wait: The remarkable sequence of events unfolded on Arnaud's 32nd and last trip to the park and made for a event he would never forget


'To make the picture more interesting, there was a female hippo in the background. I started shooting with my 500mm lens and realised that there was a tiny baby hippo with the female.

'After five very peaceful minutes and as I was still composing shots with the kingfisher and the hippos when all hell broke loose.


source: dailymail

PE teacher tells headmaster: 'I can't come in to work... I've been bitten by a CROCODILE'

By Daily Mail Reporter


Mr Brand shows off his arm bite from the reptile in his native Zimbabwe after he had gone 'crocodile wrestling'


A PE teacher phoned his headmaster to tell him that he couldn't make it into school because he had been bitten by a crocodile.

Scott Brand, phoned school chiefs at the £9,630-a-term at the Cumnor House School in Haywards Heath in West Sussex, to say he 'needed a few days off' after the croc sunk its teeth into his left arm while he was on holiday.

The 21-year-old said the razor-toothed reptile had struck in his native Zimbabwe after he and his friends had gone 'crocodile wrestling' after a 'few beers'.


He told school chiefs that he couldn't come in, adding: ‘Sorry, I've been bitten by a crocodile.’

The teacher - who also plays as an openside flanker for Uckfield Rugby Club in East Sussex - explained how he had gone 'croc wrestling' with friends in Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe in January.
He admitted he had had a few drinks before deciding to tackle the crocodile by jumping into the water from his boat and trying to grab it round the neck.

He said: ‘Unfortunately I had also been sampling Africa's finest lager all afternoon, making our plans to wrestle with one of the water's most dangerous predators all the more tricky.

‘I saw a four-foot long croc and just jumped in and grabbed it.
‘It went nuts and was really going for me and it eventually got a hold of my left arm and bit down.’

He added: ‘It was bloody sore, but I got back on land and just poured some vodka over it and bandaged it up.’

Mr Brand admitted that he and his pals 'weren't too concerned', adding: ‘We were in the middle of a lake, right in the middle of nowhere.

‘We were four days away from civilisation, but to be honest it only took a few seconds before I got another beer down me and we stayed for another six days.’

When he got back to the UK, however, his left arm had swollen up and become infected and he was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Scott Brand said of the croc: 'It went nuts and was really going for me and it eventually got a hold of my left arm and bit down'


Doctors at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead operated on the wound after discovering that blood poisoning was setting in and stitched the wound up.

He said school staff and pupils were 'amazed' when he told them why he needed a few days off sick, adding: ‘Everyone at school, the headmaster, kids and other teachers, were shocked and couldn't believe I had been bitten by a crocodile.

‘I was off school for a few days and missed three rugby matches.

‘Everyone is calling me croc bait or Mick Dundee now.’


Source:dailymail