Crocodile Brad’s Road Back to the Wild
After years of recovery at Ellis Park from a cruel life in a tiny steel cage, Brad the crocodile proved much stronger than expected.
Brad had been kept as a pet in a steel cage the size of his body. All his teeth fell out as he tried for years to free himself by biting on the steel bars. His captor finally decided to free him and did so in a village waterway, posing risk and fear to the locals. We were called to rescue by the authorities.
We never expected Brad to fully recover from his terrible state. That's why constructed a special enclosure for Brad in Ellis Park. Here was able to wander, enjoy his very own water dam and heal.
Undeniable strength
We were wrong... Brad is much stronger than we thought! Over the years, he has become strong, his teeth have regenarated, and he proved that he could catch his own fish every day. The veterinary team has given him the all-clear to return to where he truly belongs: the wild.
Operation Rescued Crocodiles
Coincedentally, since september we had been very busy with the providing care and medical needs for 26 salt water crocodiles, all confiscated by the government from the illegal trade and ownership. We surveyed potential release areas and found the perfect spot: an isolated swamp area. This coincidence also created an opportunity for Brad to join the group.
Back to the wild
Together with other rescued crocodiles, we have relocated Brad to a pristine mangrove / swamp area where he can thrive. The journey took 20 hours by bus and boat! We conducted a pre-release survey and have monitored the crocodiles for two weeks after their release.
Thank you for everything!
It is hard to believe how far he has come. When Brad was first rescued, he was in such poor condition and needed a great deal of care and time to recover. Seeing him now, strong, healthy and back in nature, makes every moment worthwhile.
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