Up Close with a Crocodile

By Val

@valmnz (17097)

New Zealand

May 22, 2018 4:49pm CST

One of my wishes for my Australian holiday was to get up close to a crocodile. That wish occurred during my short stay in Darwin at the top of the country. I visited Crocosaurus Cove, right in the heart of the town, where you could get up close with captive salt water crocodiles and other interesting reptiles. But it was the crocodiles that fascinated me. And I was lucky enough to arrive at feeding time. They showed us a mechanical demonstration of the strength of a crocodile's bite. You wouldn't want to get in the way of the real thing. I took a lot of photos, but this one was my favourite. Fortunately there was a huge thick glass-like wall between us and the enclosure.

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23 responses

@Kandae11 (54986)

•

22 May 18

In a horror or suspense movie - the crocodile smashes the glass and chases you.

6 people like this

@Marilynda1225 (82700)

• United States

22 May 18

It would catch me cause i can't run very fast

2 people like this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

22 May 18

Believe me, I didn't lean against that protection! It wasn't glass, it was rather thick perspex or whatever it's called.

2 people like this

@Kandae11 (54986)

•

22 May 18

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (60954)

• Centralia, Washington

23 May 18

He's a handsome fella. When we visited New Orleans, hubby and I went on a swamp tour. The guide held out hunks of hot dog and crocodiles jumped up high to get those hot dogs.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

That would be a bit too close for me!

2 people like this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

@sallypup even on our Gorge trip up a river we were told to do that, even though we didn't have any crocodile sightings.

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (60954)

• Centralia, Washington

23 May 18

@valmnz The tour guide held the chunk of hot dog out on a stick. He also told us to keep our hands in the boat. NO messing around. Hands in boat.

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@silvermist (19702)

• India

25 May 18

Hope I never meet a crocodile face to face.

Recently I watched a movie where crocodile attacks people killing them.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

25 May 18

They are very vicious creatures.

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@silvermist (19702)

• India

28 May 18

@valmnz Yes,also while sharks are in the water crocodiles walk on land too.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

28 May 18

@silvermist the crocs can move very quickly

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

25 May 18

I'm glad there was a glass wall between you and that crocodile. Great picture.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

26 May 18

I wouldn't have been there otherwise

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

26 May 18

@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

23 May 18

He looks dangerous even if he is behind glass. I wouldn't want to get too close.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

I was totally in awe of the beast. Magnificent fellow!

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

24 May 18

@RubyHawk and bite off arms and legs. Their bite is really powerful.

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@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

24 May 18

@valmnz They are and dangerous. I've read they can bite a mans body in half with one bite.

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@Hannihar (130218)

• Israel

23 May 18

@valmnz How close were to you one? Weren't you scared at all?

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

Behind a thick perspex wall

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

24 May 18

@Hannihar when they were feeding them one keeper held a pole in readiness

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@Hannihar (130218)

• Israel

24 May 18

@valmnz I figured they would not let you get up close to one without some kind of protection.

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@allknowing (135943)

• India

23 May 18

I really thought it was an unplanned encounter (lol)

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

Oh no, I'm not that brave

I deliberately went to a tourist attraction. That was good enough for me.

1 person likes this

@allknowing (135943)

• India

23 May 18

@valmnz Neither would I

1 person likes this

@caopaopao (12395)

• China

23 May 18

I even looked at the picture on the screen and felt very horrible

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

I thought he was rather awesome!

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@amadeo (111938)

• United States

22 May 18

that is a good shot there.Good photo

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

22 May 18

Thanks. It's probably the most impressive of the ones I took of the crocs.

@amadeo (111938)

• United States

22 May 18

@valmnz you did a good job there Val

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (105851)

• Marion, Ohio

23 May 18

With the wall maybe. But those tails are very strong too so not sure about a glass one.

Glad you got to go

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

It wasn't glass, it was perspex - especially developed.

@wolfgirl569 (105851)

• Marion, Ohio

23 May 18

@valmnz Thats good

1 person likes this

@rakski (122065)

• Philippines

23 May 18

oh yes, I saw how strong they were when we went to my daughter's field trip before in a crocodile farm,

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

Very scarey!

@MALUSE (69373)

• Germany

22 May 18

So there aren't any in New Zealand?

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

22 May 18

Good heavens no. We're a land of birds and insects, sharks and whales, Our most famous reptile is a tuatara, a big ancient lizard. The most dangerous native critter we have is a rare little spider.

@MALUSE (69373)

• Germany

23 May 18

@valmnz That's good to know.

1 person likes this

@JamesHxstatic (29413)

• Eugene, Oregon

23 May 18

I have heard scary tales of those salt water crocs.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

Oh yes! Those Australian ones have quite a reputation.

@JudyEv (339464)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 May 18

I liked the bit about the thick glass!! They do have a certain fascination about them don't they? Like the huge bulls you see, their size makes me think they can't be fast or agile but they are surprisingly so.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

24 May 18

This one was definitely huge.

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@sueznewz2 (10409)

• Alicante, Spain

24 May 18

yes its a great photo... I'm glad you got to see some..

1 person likes this

@xFiacre (12970)

• Ireland

22 May 18

@valmnz Not ideal house pets.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

22 May 18

I was offered the chance to hold a baby one but I said no thank you!

1 person likes this

@Marilynda1225 (82700)

• United States

22 May 18

Eek I wouldn't want to get that close to a crocodile but it must have been interesting to see close up. How close would you have gotten if there was no thick glass wall?

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

22 May 18

Ha, ha, no where near photographing distance!

@HazySue (39268)

• Gouverneur, New York

22 May 18

Great picture. I'm glad you had that thick glass wall between the two of you.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

22 May 18

Believe me, so was I.

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@JohnRoberts (109846)

• Los Angeles, California

23 May 18

Keep away from that bad boy!

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

23 May 18

You bet I did!

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@Happy2BeMe (99380)

• Canada

22 May 18

Very scary looking. I wouldn't want to get too close to one.

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

22 May 18

I was definitely close enough!

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