Karlie Brady

Journalist

Babinda, the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat’s resident 4.2-metre Saltwater Crocodile will have a chance to sink his teeth into the election candidates when he predicts the Shire’s next mayor.

The apex predator will pick the pollie when he is offered a picture of each mayoral candidate, Julia Leu and Michael Kerr, attached to two separate feed poles dangled over his home at the Wildlife Habitat.

The candidate he takes a chunk out of will be his pick for the winner of the 28 March election.

Babinda will make his decision during feeding time at 11:45am on Tuesday 17 March and locals are encouraged to come along to view the spectacle. Newsport will also be live streaming the results.

Babinda has had previous election experience predicting Bill Shorten for the win at the last Federal Election in 2019 and maybe it didn’t come true but let’s be fair, no one saw that win coming.

Estimated to be between 50-60 years old, originally a wild animal, the reptile has been a staple of the Wildlife habitat for 15 years after he was deemed a nuisance Croc hanging out at the boat ramp at Babinda, South of Cairns, and removed by the Department of Environment and Science.

Weighing in at over 500kg, Babinda now resides under the Predator Plank at the Wildlife Habitat with visitors able to walk the plank above the croc. Opened in late 2018, the Predator Plank is a part of the current upgrades to the Wildlife Habitat including the redevelopment of the Rainforest area and new aviary replacement of the wetlands habitat.

Babinda is said to be adored by Habitat staff and even considered “positively cute” by some.

Stay tuned to Newsport to see the results.