WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo crocodilian keepers were joined by special guests, behind the scenes at Crocodile Billabong, for an Australian Survivor-style voting ceremony, naming the newest family members – three adult freshwater crocodiles.
Urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Redfern Jarjum College, joined by Uncle Michael West, a cultural representative of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, who gave a heartfelt Welcome to Country, were welcomed by keeper Lily Williams, for a slight deviation from their usual Wednesday morning maths class.
The ‘jaw-some’ fun began back-of-house, as keeper Lily Williams took the excited students to meet the newest residents up close.
Lily gave an intimate rendition of the daily crocodile keeper talk, hosted a Q&A and arranged an impressive feeding session, to show off the fine apex predators in action, to the student’s delight.
Then straight to business. The voting ceremony!
Each student came forward, one by one, telling the camera their rationale and chosen names taken from a shortlist of indigenous-inspired names, selected by the animal keeper team.
“Jannali”, meaning “the place of the moon” or “beautiful moon rising” was the unanimous favourite from the students, who have a peer of the same name, and was awarded to the smallest female, the hungriest crocodile and crowd-favourite of the morning.
The second female was named “Merindah”, meaning “Beautiful” and the male has been named “Killara”, meaning “permanent” or “always there.
The three freshwater crocodiles arrived at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, at the end of 2022, to complete the line-up of all Aussie animal icons.
Measuring more than six meters of crocodile combined, visitors can marvel at the trio in their new domain, Crocodile Billabong, and listen to daily keeper talks.
“Working with crocodiles is not your average job!” said Lily Williams, keeper at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.
“Freshwater crocodiles are fascinating, and it was wonderful to have some special guests join us today to learn about them, to see these incredible apex predators in action and to help us give them names.
“Unlike other species of crocodilians, who sloth around due to their humongous weight, freshies are more agile, using a ‘high walk’ gait, body held high, belly and tail off the ground moving at speed, but are not considered to be dangerous to students or teachers,” joked Lily.
They reside in Crocodile Billabong in an immersive domain that has outside and inside viewing decks and lookouts offering a birds-eye view of the new arrivals sunbathing and gliding through the water.
From below the waterline, guests can come eye-to-eye with the ancient creatures and can almost step right into their lair, close enough to count their teeth, in the underwater viewing dome.
To meet Jannali, Merindah, and Killara and for further information on the other creatures, visit www.wildlifesydney.com.au
