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Wildlife Habitat's CrocArena opens to the publicPrintShare

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Crocodiles

Jereme Lane

Jereme Lane

Journalist

Last updated:

Digger is taking some time to get used to his new home. Image: Supplied
Digger is taking some time to get used to his new home. Image: Supplied


After much anticipation, and a 1700km roadtrip for two 4m plus-long saltwater crocodiles, people can now swim eye-to-teeth with the ferocious beasts at the Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas.


Today is the official opening of the - only one of its kind in Queensland - ‘Swim with the Salties’ experience right here in Port Douglas.

The adrenalin-fueled experience will allow guests to swim eye-to-teeth with these apex predators, separated by only 7cm of perspex, as the crocs lurk beneath the water and lunge for their meal.

Fresh from Australia Zoo, salties Digger and Big Al have arrived in their new habitat and are ready to show their best ‘assets’ to the public.

Warren Entsch MP and Pip Woodward cut the ribbon to officially open "Swim with the Salties". Image: supplied
Warren Entsch MP and Pip Woodward cut the ribbon to officially open "Swim with the Salties". Image: supplied

A third crocodile named Ton, will be moved from Australia Zoo to Wildlife Habitat later this year to join the growing family of salties now in residence.

The experience was attended by the Honourable Federal member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch and Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business of Australia, Stuart Robert, who both dipped in the tank for a close up look at the giant croc.

Unfortunately, Digger wasn’t in the mood for media opportunities and lay resolutely still at the bottom of his pool, not even rising to take the free barramundi on offer.

Federal Liberal Party duo, Warren Entsch and Stuart Robert do their best to entice Digger into action. Image: Jereme Lane
Federal Liberal Party duo, Warren Entsch and Stuart Robert do their best to entice Digger into action. Image: Jereme Lane

“I feel safer in there than the croc-pit in Canberra I can tell you that,” Warren Entsch said as he exited the water.

Completion of CrocArena marks the third phase of Wildlife Habitat’s major renovations, following the opening of the Nocturnal Habitat and reimagined Rainforest Habitat, which features treetop walkways and birds-eye viewpoints in a stunning recreated rainforest environment.

Bookings are now open head to the Wildlife Habitat website for more info.

 

  

  

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