The Story of Scar & Goldie

In April 2009 Scar and Goldie, two fearsome saltwater crocodiles, began their journey from crocodile farms in Australia to their new home in New Zealand’s Butterfly Creek.

This mammoth translocation required an expert team of handlers, vets, bio-security personnel as well as the generous assistance of the Royal NZ Air Force who transported them to New Zealad in a Hercules aircraft. Their arrival marked the culmination of many years of applications and plannning, a number of exploratory trips around Autralian wildlife facilities and, of course, necessiatated the construction of a sophisticated, purpose built exhibit space for these magnificent crocodilians.

How do you transport a crocodile?

In a very big box! Butterfly Creek designed and built two special transport crates. These crates needed to be able to provide security from escape and also allow access for vet checks and keeper monitoring. Of paramount importance was the comfort and wellbeing of the crocodiles being transported.

Photo Gallery of the Translocation

What do you keep a croc in?

Scar and Goldie definitely have 5 star accommodation compared to their previous homes They enjoy much larger pools (heated to 29 degrees), concrete basking pads complete with under-floor heating, as well as generous grassed and soft landscaped “relax” areas. The exhibit is themed as a snapshot of a typical Northern Territory landscape and is fully enclosed to protect them from Auckland’s colder winds. Radiant heating is provided to keep out the winter chills.

What do they eat?

Chicken, beef and pork are their main food sources at Butterfly Creek. Keepers feed them small amounts in the daily encounters, ensuring that both Scar and Goldie ‘work’ for their meals. In this way they not only gain extra exercise but also display their natural behaviours and instincts. Crocodilians can survive on surprisingly little food. They burn little energy and can get by for up to 12 months without eating.
Croc Swimming