Lockhart sure laps up his life of luxury

THE home of Lockhart the croc is more like a five-star resort than a maximum security prison.

The 5m long reptile was caught by rangers near the indigenous community of Lockhart River about four years ago, after he was found to have eaten several dogs.

He was regarded as a “problem crocodile”, posing a threat to people, and therefore removed from the community.

Since then he has grown about 40cm, showing the massive reptile has really been living the good life in his spacious pen at the Melaleuca Crocodile Farm at Mareeba, where he is fed a steady supply of chickens.

The farm’s Heather Stevens said former “problem” crocodiles such as Lockhart were kept for breeding.

“Most of the crocs we get are about 2.5m long, but occasionally you’ll get a whopper,” she said.

“We’ve only been here for the last year, but judging by our boarders, most of them have come in here over 4.2m.

“A lot of them are from south of here, from Cardwell and Herbert River (Ingham) area, and a lot are from further north.”

She said the current crocodile management program appeared to be working.

“Obviously they do want to take these crocs away from populated areas, and what better way than to put them on a farm?” she said.

“They get to live out their days with a girl or a guy depending on what they are, and food and stuff like that.

“It makes everyone happy.”