Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

Crocodile Farm - Saltwater crocodiles

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures - Saturday Feb.19

An easy 35 minutes north got us to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures.  We learnt the difference between saltwater crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles.  Salt water crocs are the larger crocodiles that can live in both fresh or salt water.  The salties are used in the crocodile farms.  The fresh water crocs are smaller with the pointy snouts and can run really fast, if they need to.  We went on a boat cruise through the lagoon and then had a tour of the crocodile farm.  They had over 5000 saltwater crocodiles at different stages of breeding.  They use them for meat, hides for shoes, purses, belts, and wallets.  They use the head for ornaments, and feet for back scratchers.  They pretty much use everything, not wasting a thing!
We attended a snake show and learnt that 10 of the 11 most venomous snakes lives in Queensland!  We saw the crocodile attack show and then got to feed the cassowaries.  Cassowaries are an endangered bird that is larger than an emu.  We also got to see turtles, wallabies, kangaroos, magpie goose, monitors, spotted quolls, stick & leaf insects and tropical birds, to mention a few.  We ended the day with the koalas, feeding and touching them.




Spartacus - Salt water crocodile

such power





pole feeding time in the lagoon




2nd round of feeding time - crocodile burger



Crocodile skewer - YUM!!


 

Titan stick insect and Spiny leaf insect



read the sign...I don't think so with Hailey around!



up close



Just chill-axe-in!



feeding the cassowaries fruit



so soft





fresh water crocodiles



"hand feeding"!




cassowary - another unique Australian animal



Monitor - EYE SEE YOU (yes it's real)





Farming saltwater crocodiles