January 5, 2015
Lisa Powers for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online
An Australian zoo co-owner, 58-year-old Ian Jenkins, lost his thumb Sunday when he was feeding chicken to Macca, a hungry, 13-foot crocodile.
Jenkins was holding a hat in his left hand—which he was using to distract Macca, when the croc grabbed and dragged him into a pond—all while horrified zoo visitors watched.
Another worker was also in the enclosure and managed to get the attention of the saltwater crocodile named Macca while Jenkins escaped the enclosure.
Jenkins also suffered a laceration to the head during the event and was air lifted to the hospital where he is in stable condition.
All jobs have their inherent dangers and working with live animals has its own special risks. But working with large, fast, carnivorous reptiles requires a special attention to the safety precautions and knowledge needed to keep one safe.
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest species of reptile on earth, and males can grow from 14 and 17ft in length and weigh as much as 880–2,200 lbs—with a few individuals even exceeding that. Females do not get as large and rarely surpass 9.8 feet in length.
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