The Amazing Crocodile Farm

There are only two Crocodile Farms in Western Australia. We went out of our way a little bit to reach Wyndham and their crocs. Later we realized that the other farm is in Broome which was our next stop no matter what so we feel a little foolish about going out of our way. With all that said, it still was so so so awesome.

We drove up to the farm around 1030 in the AM and there was a donkey outside to greet us. By 11 the tour began. Tour guide Chris was very entertaining and informative unlike the paleontologist back in Isa. Chris had a goat accompanying him for his opening song and dance so I think that helped his chances a lot too. He told us that the farm had been recently closed down and reopened and pretty much all the animals they get are the crazy ones that manage to get themselves into trouble and get captured because they are a hazard. These crocs are the ones that tip canoes. Or the ones that climb out of the water up the dock mosey their way down two blocks and consume a dog and it's leash. So they get all the crazy ones.

The crocs are farmed for their skin and meat. The tour included feeding time for many of these prehistoric beasts. Most of them were pretty docile even when food was around. Chris explained that during the Winter these coldblooded animals can stay pretty quiet. In the summer they are bashing at the side of their cages for small little morsels of steak. It is just about Winter in Western Australia but the temps are in the 80's and 90's so it doesn't feel like it. Summer out here is supposed to be unbearably hot and sticky. Chris was saying all the good shows the crocs make in the summer being all hyper animated is when the temps are in the 110's and consequently there are 0 tourists around to see it.

Here is Fred. I made sure to get a number of shots of him because he reminds me so much of my good ol' D A D. So that was the gist of the tour. Massive beast after massive beast showing up for a little snack right in front of our faces. Pretty incredible how these things can move and even jump out of the water. Some of them close to 5 meters long and are capable of disappearing into the water in a matter of seconds.

Now Tom and I have reached Broome and the West Coast. I swam in the Indian Ocean for the first time in my life yesterday. It was excellent. Cable Beach was probably the most crowded beach we will see on the West Coast and still after a ten minute jog down the beach I was able to have a nice 3km stretch of water all to myself. So incredible. So remote. Plus I scared up a nice little sting ray in the surf. Alas I didn't have my mask with me to get a better look.

Happy June to everyone! Schools out for summer! Or just about. That's fun. Alright time to go stock up on supplies and drive down the coast in search of another deserted coastline. One final note, click the link on the side of the page to see more of my pictures from the North and West of Australia. There are heaps of excellent shots I couldn't put up on the page in fear of overloading you with too much impossible/incredible visual stimuli.

B “B is for Blindy” Lindy