Crunch is in an elite group of world heavyweight crocodiles – a true giant of the animal kingdom! There is much exaggeration when the length and weights of crocodiles are discussed. Crunch was accurately measured when he arrived at the park in 2014 at 5 metres (16.4 feet) in length and 500kg (1102lbs) in weight. He is approximately 75 years of age.
A crocodile of this size has tremendously powerful jaws. The measurement for bite force is taken at the rear of the jaws. Crunch’s jaws exert as much as 3700 pounds of bite force – hence the name “Crunch”! A human’s bite pressure has been recorded at 120 pounds. Crocodile tooth pressures (the localized pressure exerted at the tip of a tooth) of up to 350,000lbs per square inch have been recorded.
Crunch was the undisputed dominant male of the Lockhart River region of far North Queensland, fiercely defending his domain from other giant crocodiles that entered his territory. He was deemed to be a problem animal due to his size, aggression, and habit of frequenting a busy boat ramp.
In March 2007 a trap was set. Twice Crunch took the baits but somehow escaped. On the third attempt he was captured and transported to a crocodile farm holding facility in Cooktown where he was released into a pen for breeding purposes. He then escaped from the holding pen and took up residence in a disused barramundi dam on the same property, where he resided for the next six years.
It did not take long for Crunch to learn the manager’s routine. Crunch would know what day the manager was expected to bring him his weekly feed, then he would crash his way up the 5-metre incline of the dam like a machine, eager for his lunch.
The manager quickly realised that Crunch was a special crocodile, standing out from the crowd not just because of his size but for his unique personality.
Ballarat Wildlife Park has successfully bred both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles.
Since their relocation to Ballarat Crunch and his partner Bella have bred successfully every year!
You can watch a Crocodile keeper talk here (Youtube).
Crocodylus is derived from the greek krokodeilos = pebble worm.
The word porosus = callosites and refers to the bump armour-plating on the back.
As the name implies, this species inhabits the tidal sections of rivers in tropical Australia from pure fresh water to saltwater. They can also inhabit freshwater streams, swamps and billabongs of the river floodplains and are aften seen swimming in open ocean.
In recent years in northern Australia “Salties” have recovered their numbers forcing them further upstream into marginal habitats, often in unexpected locations.
Usually nests during the northern west season from late October – to April. The female constructs a nest of vegetation and soil in which she lays up to 50 hard shelled eggs. Incubation duration is between 65 – 114 days.
Saltwater crocodiles have the most developed brain of any reptile and can remember routines of other animals (including people) thus helping them to capture prey by waiting in certain spots at certain times of the day or year.
