Australian croc takes a fancy to a lawnmower

Dec 28, 2011, 7:27 GMT

Sydney - A 5-metre saltwater crocodile in a park near Sydney gave keepers a fright Wednesday when he grabbed their lawnmower, dragged it into a pool and guarded it for fear a rival would come and take over his latest conquest.

'Crocodiles are like that,' said Australian Reptile Park spokeswoman Libby Bain. 'When they get something they hang on to it and it's a dangerous job trying to get it off them.'

The enclosure was being spruced up for the visit of a television crew when the reptile named Elvis lunged at the lawnmower and would not let go.

The 500-kilogramme reptile was eventually lured from the lawnmower with kangaroo meat. It had been originally taken into captivity after going after boats in the far-north city of Darwin,

He was held off long enough for the mangled machine to be hauled from the pool, along with two 7-centimetre teeth knocked out by the whirling blades.

The tussle was captured on film by the keeper, who whipped out his smartphone as he kept the still-chugging lawnmower between himself and the enraged reptile.

'Elvis is no worse for wear,' Bain said. 'Crocodiles grow back their teeth so there's no permanent harm done.'

The lawnmower, in contrast, is a complete write-off.

Elvis, who is in the prime of his life at around 50 years old, has earned a reputation for violence since he arrived in the reptile park three years ago.

'He's a nasty croc, a real monster' Bain said. 'After he was removed from Darwin harbour they tried to mate him with two females - he killed them both.'

Aggression like that explains why Elvis has an enclosure all to himself.