00:02We're here at the Bury Springs Tavern about 45 minutes south of Darwin for the annual Bury Springs Croc Racing.
00:08It's the race that stops the top end. We're seeing three races with four Crocs in each race.
00:14And they are racing throughout the day.
00:16And we've got Tyson here from Crocodilus Park. He's a Croc Wrangler.
00:20Can you tell us about these Crocs and where they live?
00:23Oh heck mate, so they're born and raised in our zoo.
00:26And basically we give them the most natural experience possible.
00:28So we've got this little facility and it's basically like a man-made billabong.
00:32And in there there's about 20 to 30 baby saltwater crocodiles.
00:35Just like this one I've got here. This is Scrapper.
00:38Now Scrapper here is two years of age.
00:40Now he's taped up for a good reason.
00:42He likes to bite fingers off.
00:44But we raise them, give them the most natural experience.
00:47And then they grow up, grow up and they get big mate. Really big.
00:51So is he a freshwater or a saltwater crocodile?
00:53So surprisingly this is a saltwater crocodile.
00:56The world's largest living reptile and the world's largest living crocodile.
00:59So one day he'll get too big for my hands to hold.
01:03And you said he was two years old.
01:04Yeah, yeah, two years of age.
01:06So like humans and crocodiles it comes down to the parent.
01:08And like parents everyone grows differently.
01:11So the ones that are racing, they're the same age.
01:13Two years old, difference is though they're bigger.
01:15Much bigger, much more powerful.
01:16Hence why they can run much more quicker.
01:18So next year, and potentially next year, he'll race for the next lot of crocodiles in the next race.
01:23Potentially.
01:24So each race do the crocodiles get bigger?
01:27Somewhat, yeah.
01:27If they get too big mate, it gets hard for me to catch them.
01:30And then the crowd has to step in and help me out.
01:32So next year, he'll grow to respectful 80 to 90 centimetres.
01:35Which is perfect for me to handle.
01:37And I've got to handle four of them at the same time.
01:39So next year, he'll be the next one to probably be the star of the show.
01:43And it's also Melbourne Cup day today.
01:45It seems like here this is the bigger race.
01:48Which race do you prefer?
01:49Oh heck mate, I prefer the crocodile race.
01:51More fun, more action packed and more enthusiasm.
01:53And it's passion.
01:54Everyone's here having a good old time.
01:56And kitten back mate, this is territory life.
01:58Awesome, thanks Tyson.
02:00Cheers mate.
Comments