Wednesday 30 September 2009

Tourists turn croc handlers for a day

30 September 2009

By Cathy Harper

Dozens of interstate and overseas tourists have become croc musterers for the day in Darwin.

A crocodile farm in the Northern Territory capital today opened its doors to volunteers wanting a hands-on experience with the dangerous animals.

The farm needed almost 400 of its young reptiles measured and moved into pens with animals their own size.

But before the inexperienced croc handlers could get close to the beasts, which ranged in size from 1.2 to 2 metres, they were temporarily stunned with an electric shock and subdued with tape by experts.

"When you keep them in big numbers in captivity, the big ones will eventually bully the smaller ones," zoo keeper Tate Chambers said.

Adelaide tourist Kerri Williams, who was in Darwin visiting her sister, Karen Avery, got more than she bargained for.

"One got out so Karen ran and grabbed it and I jumped on its head, got on its head and held it, so that was really exciting," she said.

They left with a tale they are happy to admit may get embellished as it is retold.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/30/2701035.htm

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