WO2 Ross Scott cleans the enclosure of a giant crocodile in Dili, East Timor. The Australians routinely feed and clean the cages of two large crocodiles, animals that have spiritual significance in Timorese culture. Photo by Cpl Wade Laube, 1JPAU(P)

Soldiers doing the crocodile rock

From Cpl Jonathan Garland
in East Timor
AUSTRALIAN soldiers are about to make a donation to East Timor – and it’s a croc.

Two crocs, in fact. The crocodiles, Antonio and Maria, have lived in pens at the back of a local church since the early days of INTERFET, when they were the subject of a TV special by crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.

WO1 ‘Guns’ McDowall of the Australian National Command Element (ASNCE) in East Timor said the crocodiles had been in the care of the Force Logistic Squadron since then.

“Once they packed up and went home earlier this year, the job of feeding and caring for the reptiles fell to ASNCE,” he said.

“We come down once a week and clean their ponds out, draining and replacing the water, and give them a feed – just generally keeping an eye on them.”

Capt Craig Turnbull, the soldier largely responsible for the animal’s care, did research on crocodile care and feeding to ensure the best care possible for the creatures.

Antonio and Maria eat about a kilo of meat each, which, considering their lack of current room to exercise, is plenty to keep them happy.

The pair has a new home waiting for them at Metinaro, where they will become mascots for the East Timor Defence Force.

They will have more space and their handlers will have more access to their pens, with an isolation area to hold the crocodiles while their living area is cleaned.

The Australian Government has built the new facility for the crocodiles as a gift to the people of East Timor.

Antonio and Maria are scheduled to move into their new home in time for Christmas.

The crocodile features in the Timorese creation myth, in which a child saved a baby crocodile that then allowed the child to ride it.

When the crocodile grew too old to swim it stopped and eventually turned into the island of Timor.

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