Operations Manager Billy Collett is used to facing unexpected duties at the Australian Reptile Park.
But a deep dive into the saltwater crocodile enclosure wasn’t quite what he was expecting when he turned up for work on July 4.
An unexpected amount of rain overnight washed gravel into the pool, blocking the drain responsible for circulating heated water throughout the exhibit.
And with the Park’s star croc Elvis needing to have a pool temperature of 28 degrees, Collett geared up with goggles, weights to assist him in reaching the bottom of the pool, and a rope securely attached to his waist to dive in alongside Elvis and clear the blockage.
Fellow keepers kept a close eye on Elvis’s every movement as Collett performed the daring operation ready to pull the rope securely attached to Collett’s waist if Elvis began to head in his direction.
“Making the decision to get in the pool with Elvis is not easy,” Collett said.
“With the recent rain making the water murky, it made it even more difficult to easily locate this giant underwater, so my life was literally in the team’s hands.
“Saltwater crocodiles are extremely agile and are at their most dangerous when they’re in the water, so I needed to make sure I got in and out of there as quickly as possible.”
A surprise find during the operation was two massive teeth.
“I was not expecting to come across two huge teeth when clearing the blockage,” Collett said.
“Even though it was surprising, over their lifetime, saltwater crocodiles naturally lose and replace their teeth, so it’s great to see that Elvis’s dental health is in tip-top shape.
“I’m stoked that the task is over.
“Now that the pump is working again and the water is being circulated, Elvis will be safe and sound during this cold winter we’ve been experiencing.”
Visitors can see Elvis in action at 1.30pm every day during the school holidays.
The 500kg beast gained worldwide attention when he almost ate his keeper’s lawnmower in 2011, earning him the title of Australia’s crankiest crocodile.
Elvis acts as an ambassador for saltwater crocodiles and is one of the most popular animals at the Australian Reptile Park.
He serves to provide people with a connection to saltwater crocodiles and educates his fans of the importance of the reptiles in the environment.
Saltwater crocodiles were once hunted to the brink of extinction in Australia but following their status to be legally protected in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, their numbers have made a full recovery and they are now listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Source:
Australian Reptile Park