Broome Crocodile Park

Back on the road north again! Our next stop was Broome.

A quick stop at Cable Beach

Entering Broom Crocodile Park

I got to hold a big snake!

Evil snake! Don't go up my skirt! (made everyone laugh)

There are not only Crocs in the park. 

You also get to see loads of Australia's native animals.

Pink Cockatoo!

Yet another big spider!!

Blue Kookaburra

Dingos! Beautiful dogs! I was sad to learn that they are one of the world's most endangered species.

There were also lots of different types of kangaroos and wallabies.

This bird, the Tawny Frogmouth owl really fascinated me!

When is an Owl not an Owl? When it is a Tawny Frogmouth!

This unwitting 'false owl' is responsible for much confusion in the world of Owls. The fact is, this bird is not an owl at all. Owls belong to the order of Strigiformes, while Tawny Frogmouths (Podargus strigoides) are sometimes placed in the order of Coraciiformes which, in Australia, includes kingfishers and kookaburras. However, in some other taxonomies, notably by Sibley, frogmouths are indeed included with Strigiformes but separated into a different suborder (Caprimulgi) and Infraorder (Podargides) than are true owls.

Looks like something straight out of Harry Potter!!

Flying foxes! I had been waiting to see some since I had arrived!

They are giant bats; look just like winged foxes!

Mum and baby flying fox.

Dracula?!

Hello there big lizard!

A Cassowary. 

A big sign on the fence said 'do not come near the fence'.

I later learnt that is is a dangerous bird. Serious! That is one bird you do not want to mess with! Here is what wikipedia says about them:

the Southern Cassowary, is the third tallest and second heaviest living bird, smaller only than the ostrich and emu.

Cassowaries have a reputation for being dangerous to people and domestic animals. During World War II American and Australian troops stationed in New Guinea were warned to steer clear of them. In his book "Living Birds of the World" from 1958, ornithologist Thomas E. Gilliard wrote:

"The inner or second of the three toes is fitted with a long, straight, murderous nail which can sever an arm or eviscerate an abdomen with ease. There are many records of natives being killed by this bird."

The one documented human death caused by a cassowary was on 6 April 1926. 16-year old Phillip McClean and his brother, aged 13, came across a cassowary on their property and decided to kill it by striking it with clubs. The bird kicked the younger boy, who fell and ran away as his older brother struck the bird. The cassowary then charged and knocked the older McClean to the ground and kicked him in the neck, opening a 1.25 cm (0.49 in) wound. The boy managed to escape, but died shortly afterwards as a result of his injuries.

Then it was time to meet the crocs!

We some who ended up in an area where visitors are not supposed to go: the farming area.

Baby salt water croc!

Even little salt water crocs are evil!

Apparently, if one bites you it feels like getting your finger slammed in a car door!

Salt water crocodile feeding time!

Some of the bigger, more dangerous crocs were kept in separate parks.

Found this big fella looked kind of cute!

Yep, we stayed well away from that fence!

Just look at the size of that croc (photo below)!

Nice manicure!

There were also some fresh water crocodiles, but seemed really small, slow and docile compared to the salt water ones!

After this short stop it was time to hit the road once again!