Crocodile Attacks Lawnmower
The keepers of Elvis, a 50 year old saltwater crocodile of unusual violence from the Australian Reptile Park in Sydney, were obliged to effect a daring rescue of a lawnmower after the irritated reptile attacked and seized it from Operations Manager Tim Faulkner and Keeper Billy Collett.
Elvis, presumably objecting to the noise of the machine, pulled the machine under water in his enclosure and 'drowned' it. He then sat patiently watching his catch for over an hour.
''Once he got it, he just sat there and guarded it,'' said Mr Faulkner. ''It was his prize, his trophy. If it moved, then he would attack it again.''
The lawnmower was eventually recovered when Mr Collett bravely decoyed Elvis to the other end of the enclosure with kangaroo meat, allowing Mr Faulkner to jump the fence and hurriedly retrieve it. Upon closer inspection, the lawnmower was discovered to be damaged beyond repair. Elvis also lost two teeth, possibly when his teeth punctured the mower's top casing.
This is not the first time Elvis has acted violently. He was first caught after attacking fishing boats in Darwin Harbour and he ate two females at the Crocodile Farm shortly after being taken into captivity.
''He is so full of testosterone that he views everything as a threat,'' explained Mr Faulkner. ''Even potential mates.''
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
