When the ABC visited in the thick of the humid build-up, Fat Boy had become a little more voracious, locking its jaws onto a carcass fed through its enclosure before retreating to near invisibility in its pond. With a broken heart, Ms Collins made the decision last year to sell the cherished pet after her husband died, leaving her to take on crocodile-rearing duties solo.
She now finds herself in the rare predicament of searching for an appropriate home for her unique and eminently dangerous creature. The Northern Territory's wild crocodile population has recovered since its protection began in and, according to the Government's most recent management plan, now approaches pre-hunting levels.
Amid these growing numbers, the people who choose to keep the apex predators in their backyards surely represent one of the most interesting human-crocodile configurations. Seventy residents have permits for saltwater crocodiles, 26 people are licensed to own freshwater ones, and a further seven hold permits for both.
Domesticate may be the wrong word for what owners do, but their relationships show crocodiles and humans living in close-quarter harmony. The Government acknowledges that they have the potential to be very dangerous, and when building enclosures owners must follow strict guidelines to balance the welfare of the animal and their own separation from harm.
Crocodiles longer than 60 centimetres cannot be kept in urban areas, although a saltwater crocodile in Fannie Bay has long drawn the attention of curious neighbours and stands as an exception to this rule. And despite these guidelines, one local retailer has witnessed huge demand since deciding to put baby crocodile pets on the market.
Crocodylus Park has been known to sell baby crocodiles to urban owners who return them once they hit 60 centimetres , sometimes purchasing a new baby reptile when they do so. About three years ago, the Sullivan family heard about the poor fortune of a once-prized crocodile and took action. Wilma had lived at a Queensland crocodile farm for decades, but she had stopped laying eggs and was set to be harvested for her valuable skull and skin.
The Sullivans talked their way into transporting the ageing reptile up to the Top End to give her just that. On a large rural lot, thick with humid air as storms roll over the town of Batchelor, they've created a home for misfit crocodiles.
No fewer than 16 saltwater crocodiles, one of them blind and many that might otherwise be dead, alongside half a dozen freshwater crocodiles, are kept in enclosures there. The level of trust Mr Sullivan and his son, Phillip, exhibit towards these creatures might raise the blood pressure of outsiders. Their largest croc, Shar, is rumoured to be years old, lost part of his lower jaw in a crocodile-on-crocodile fight, and is believed to be a murderer.
But the men, who have learned to mitigate the obvious danger with routine, say they regard the crocodiles as family and know each of their distinct personalities. Search for:. Greg Cook Help Wonderland keep producing our great coverage of local arts, cultures and activisms and our great festivals by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon.
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Although it has poor tolerance to salinity, individuals occasionally venture into brackish water for short periods. During periods of drought, they migrate overland looking for freshwater. This often brings them into conflict with humans as they take shelter in swimming pools and garden spas.
There are well over a million animals in stronghold states like Florida and Louisiana, and there is clearly no immediate threat to the wild population. Growth rates vary with temperature and food intake, but at least 1 to 2 feet per year when young.
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