Sharp show-offs settle into new home

Staff enter the enclosures twice a day to make sure Goldie (pictured) and Scar keep moving. Photo / Martin Sykes

Australian imports Scar and Goldie are settling in to their new home at Auckland Airport and can even be convinced to put on a show.

The two saltwater crocodiles - the only ones in New Zealand - arrived from Australia in April and are now on display at Butterfly Creek.

Keeper Georgina Hitchlock says the pair settled in faster than expected. It took only four weeks for Scar, the older of the two at 45 years old, to start eating.

The two males, about 5m long, must be kept in separate enclosures to keep them from attacking each other.

Scar was given his name because of the scar on his nose, received when he tore through a corrugated iron fence to get to the crocodile on the other side.

"He's the reason he's never going to meet his neighbour," Ms Hitchlock said. "They are very territorial."

The keepers at Butterfly Creek enter the enclosures twice a day to encourage the crocodiles to move around.

They offer them food every few days to see if they are hungry, but in winter the reptiles eat less as it takes too much energy to digest their food.

Goldie had not eaten for three weeks before he was enticed out of the water by the piece of scotch fillet offered to him by the keepers yesterday.

Scar was originally caught in Darwin Harbour and used for breeding. Goldie appeared in shows in Cairns before the pair were brought to New Zealand.

The crocodiles - who each weigh more than 400kg - are enjoying the freedom their new enclosures provide after previously being kept in tanks not much larger than themselves.

"For the first time in their lives," Ms Hitchlock said, "they are able to swim around naturally."