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In
a move that involved the cooperation of Aquaworld Aquarium, the Attica
Zoological Park and Olympic Airways Cargo, Snap the little Nile
crocodile left Hersonissos this month for his permanent home in Athens.
Snap
had been for sale as part of the illegal pet trade, but fortunately found
his way to Aquaworld five years ago. There he settled in and grew… and grew…
“Of course, we knew
from the outset that he would eventually need a new home,” commented Judith
McLaren, who has cared for Snap since his arrival, “but it’s still a bit of
a wrench to see him go.”
“Finding the right
place for him threatened to be a real headache,” husband John continued,
“with the added complication that crocs get stressed very easily – so
sending him on a long journey was not advisable. The offer of a place at
Attica Park was therefore very welcome indeed!”
Olympic Cargo agreed
to transport Snap – so all John had to do was to get him into his
specially built container for the journey without getting chewed up too
badly.
“It’s not that he’s
terribly aggressive, but how would you like it if you were suddenly heaved
out of your own home, had your jaws taped closed (to comply with IATA
regulations) and got shoved in a box?” asks John. “Nevertheless, having
watched the late and sadly missed Steve Irwin doing the same job with much
larger critters gave me confidence.”
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With the help of a
little rope and some very strong ‘American’ tape, Snap was ready to
go. Another bonus of re-homing the croc in Athens was that John and Judith
were able to accompany him all the way and it was John himself who released
him into his new compound.
“All in all, a happy
ending to what could have been a very different story. We took Snap
out of a very precarious situation, cared for him for five years, and have
now secured a permanent home for him. Job done!” concluded John.
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