The world’s most famous reptile, Elvis the crocodile, celebrated 16 years at the Australian Reptile Park during the current school holidays.
To celebrate his anniversary, keepers will gift Elvis a huge slab of pig during the Park’s famous Elvis Show this weekend (October 7-8) and visitors will be lucky enough to witness the 500kg beast perform the famous “death-roll” and leap out of the water to claim his prize.
After the death of their first well-known crocodile Eric, the Park went on a search to find a crocodile to step into his place.
It didn’t take long before they came across Elvis in the Northern Territory.
He had been causing havoc to fishermen’s boats in Darwin Harbour and it was decided to rehome him to the Australian Reptile Park.
Since then, Elvis has become a beloved member of the Park’s family.
Operations Manager Billy Collett has worked with Elvis since the croc’s arrival in 2007 and the two share a special bond.
“Elvis is like family to us here at the Australian Reptile Park,” Collett said.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with him since he first arrived, and we’ve shared some amazing moments together including proposing to my wife in the middle of the Elvis Show.
“Another time, Elvis stole the lawn mower off me as I was mowing around his yard.
“This isn’t a weekend that you’ll want to miss.
“For the last weekend, we’ll be gifting him his favourite food – a massive slab of pig.
“Visitors will see him leaping out of the water and doing crazy death-rolls, so make sure to come along to the Australian Reptile Park for the last weekend of the school holidays.”
Saltwater crocodiles were once hunted to the brink of extinction in Australia but following their status to be legally protected in Queensland, the NT and WA, 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