PREVIEW

WORDS BYLINE: Hayley Chamberlain

Zoo keepers at an Australian wildlife park have risked life and limb in a heart-stopping battle with a crocodile, as they carried out a high-risk dental operation on the park’s most feared resident.

Staff at the Australian Reptile Park came face-to-face with Elvis – the park’s largest, most dangerous and most notoriously bad-tempered crocodile - following concerns that a serious jaw infection could become life-threatening. The mature male measures 4.8 metres in length and is considered extremely difficult to restrain due to his size, strength and temperament.

Elvis has only been captured twice in his 14 years at the park because of the significant risks involved. The decision to restrain him for a third time was made after keepers observed worsening infections in his jaw that could have had serious health consequences if left untreated.

Park Manager Billy Collett said the procedure was the most dangerous operation carried out at the park.

“Catching and restraining a mature male saltwater crocodile carries extreme risk,” he said. “However, leaving the infection untreated was not an option, as it could ultimately have been fatal.”

The operation followed months of preparation, including detailed planning and staff training. Immediately before entering the enclosure, senior staff conducted a safety briefing to reinforce protocols and lessons learned from previous captures.

The capture began with three senior keepers entering the enclosure and calmly luring the crocodile forward using food. Once a rope was secured over Elvis’ upper jaw, the animal reacted with a series of powerful rolls and movements typical of defensive behaviour in large crocodilians. Keepers maintained control until sedation could be safely administered.

Veterinary staff then conducted X-rays of the jaw, which showed that the condition was less severe than initially feared.

“We initially expected multiple teeth to require removal,” Mr Collett said. “However, the veterinarians were satisfied that the affected teeth could be treated without extensive extraction.”

Veterinarian Dr Robin Crisman, from Somersby Animal Hospital, treated the infected areas around Elvis’ visible teeth, allowing the damaged teeth to shed naturally and be replaced through normal tooth regeneration.

Further scans confirmed that while Elvis’ current teeth have significant wear and no remaining enamel, new teeth developing within the jaw are healthy. This indicates recent dietary adjustments are having a positive effect.

Mr Collett said the outcome was encouraging, with new teeth expected to fully emerge over the next 18 months to two years.

The procedure also marked the first saltwater crocodile capture for several staff members, including Annika Barker, deputy head of the reptiles department, who assisted directly in the operation.

Following the procedure, Elvis was returned to his enclosure and has since resumed normal behaviour.