Small, Grey and Dangerous
This post is for anyone who thinks koalas are cute. In other words, some Australians and all foreigners.
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A cranky koala achieved what an angry croc couldn't - it beat off thieves.
The bizarre incident began when Rockhampton police in Queensland received a tip-off that someone had a crocodile in their possession.
"The police came to the zoo, checked out our exhibit and we were down a female freshwater crocodile,'' said Tom Wyatt at Rockhampton City Council.
The 1.2 metre crocodile - known simply as "the girl freshie" - was dragged by thieves over a 2.4 metre fence in the middle of the night.
"Can you imagine these people struggling over a 2.4 metre security fence with a writhing wild reptile?" he said.
"It's not a baby you are holding in your arms here. We are talking about 40 kilograms and 1.2 metres of absolute fury."
"They are not man-eaters [like salt water crocodiles]. But they can still give you a nasty bite."
The thieves originally planned to take one of the zoo's koalas and only changed tack after it proved too vicious, 21-year-old zookeeper Wil Kemp told smh.com.au.
He had been told by police that four people were involved in the wildlife heist, which allegedly involved stealing a koala and swapping it for drugs.
"The original plan was to steal a koala - that's what they were going to use to swap [for] the drugs,'' Mr Kemp said.
"[But] apparently [the koala] scratched the s**t out of them.''
"The blokes have quite a lot of scratches and lacerations caused by the koala.''
The thieves then decided to take a crocodile instead.
"I don't know what makes someone go, 'Oh we tried to steal a koala and that didn't work so let's go and steal a croc.'"
"The people who did it must have been quite stupid. It's the last thing I wound have thought a member of the general public would try to steal for drugs.''
Mr Kemp said the meat and skin of a freshwater crocodile was worthless, but the stolen reptile might be sold in the pet trade for about $600.
"I'm worried and angered. I spent the last three years looking after it. I hope at least [the person who has it is] looking after it OK.''
+++++
A cranky koala achieved what an angry croc couldn't - it beat off thieves.
The bizarre incident began when Rockhampton police in Queensland received a tip-off that someone had a crocodile in their possession.
"The police came to the zoo, checked out our exhibit and we were down a female freshwater crocodile,'' said Tom Wyatt at Rockhampton City Council.
The 1.2 metre crocodile - known simply as "the girl freshie" - was dragged by thieves over a 2.4 metre fence in the middle of the night.
"Can you imagine these people struggling over a 2.4 metre security fence with a writhing wild reptile?" he said.
"It's not a baby you are holding in your arms here. We are talking about 40 kilograms and 1.2 metres of absolute fury."
"They are not man-eaters [like salt water crocodiles]. But they can still give you a nasty bite."
The thieves originally planned to take one of the zoo's koalas and only changed tack after it proved too vicious, 21-year-old zookeeper Wil Kemp told smh.com.au.
He had been told by police that four people were involved in the wildlife heist, which allegedly involved stealing a koala and swapping it for drugs.
"The original plan was to steal a koala - that's what they were going to use to swap [for] the drugs,'' Mr Kemp said.
"[But] apparently [the koala] scratched the s**t out of them.''
"The blokes have quite a lot of scratches and lacerations caused by the koala.''
The thieves then decided to take a crocodile instead.
"I don't know what makes someone go, 'Oh we tried to steal a koala and that didn't work so let's go and steal a croc.'"
"The people who did it must have been quite stupid. It's the last thing I wound have thought a member of the general public would try to steal for drugs.''
Mr Kemp said the meat and skin of a freshwater crocodile was worthless, but the stolen reptile might be sold in the pet trade for about $600.
"I'm worried and angered. I spent the last three years looking after it. I hope at least [the person who has it is] looking after it OK.''
(Source: smh.com.au)
posted by Shaun at Thursday, March 30, 2006
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