Animal Diaries Archive

Pommy backs up!

18 July 2008

G’day guys and welcome to another diary entry from the Croc Team!

Tom (aka Pommy) has been on the Croc Team for nearly eight months and has recently reached the next level of training- first back up! Tom is being trained to ‘back up’ in the Crocoseum and triple ponds. The clear water in these two ponds enables both the feeder and ‘back up’ to see the crocs easily. ‘Backing up’ in the environmental park is very different because the deep murky water makes it very hard to see the croc.

Here at Australia Zoo we take working with crocodiles very seriously. They are very powerful and clever animals, so we ensure there is plenty of back up when working and doing demonstrations with the crocs.

The role of first back up is very important and there is a lot of responsibility involved. The person feeding the crocodile relies on their back up to be a second pair of eyes and ears; watching the crocodile and anything else that may put the feeder in any kind of danger. For example, a tripping hazard!

Tom has got a lot of training to do with Briano and Toby (our senior croc keepers) before he completes his ‘back up’ training. In the meantime, he is loving the challenge!