Alice Springs Reptile Centre
Alice Springs Reptile Centre | |
---|---|
23°42′S 133°52′E / 23.7°S 133.87°E | |
Date opened | January 2000 |
Location | Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia |
Website | www |
The Alice Springs Reptile Centre is a privately operated
The centre is devoted to
History
Founded by Rex Neindorf, a former reptile handler, the centre opened in January 2000, and features over 100 reptiles of 60 different species. Reptiles from the centre have featured in
The centre added a large
The centre is adjacent to Billy Goat Hill, which is on Crown land. After several incidents which saw reptiles in the centre killed, management sought to convince local police and the Lands Department to increase security on the hill – a spot frequented by youths and itinerant drinkers. Director of the centre, Rex Neindorf stated these efforts have been unsuccessful.[6]
Attacks on animals
2004
On 8 August 2004, a group of youths broke into the centre and attacked and bludgeoned a crocodile with a ladder and pool equipment.[7] A 13-year-old boy was charged with the attack, and received a two-month suspended sentence and was placed on a good behaviour bond[8] for two years, a sentence seen as overly lenient by the zoo's director.[9] A second youth, a 12-year-old boy, had his six-month jail sentence reduced to a month on appeal. The crocodile suffered cuts and broken teeth, but survived.[10]
2008
On 1 October 2008, a 7-year-old boy attacked animals at the centre. The boy, whose name was not released, was accused of breaking into the zoo while it was closed. He was captured on
The attack lasted 30 minutes. After his arrest, the boy refused to cooperate with police.[14] He was able to break in without tripping the alarm system,[15] and was reported to be expressionless during the rampage.[16] The animal species lost are said to be difficult to replace.[14]
The attack was widely reported in the press, in countries including Australia, Canada, Finland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom, United States, Italy, and many others.
References
- ^ a b c "Alice Springs Reptile Centre customer story" (PDF). Australian Department of Industry. April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ISBN 0-7645-7848-0.
- ^ "Reptile centre issues snake warning". ABC. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008.
- ^ "Alice Springs Reptile Centre – Reptiles". Alice Springs Reptile Centre. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ "Alice Springs Reptile Centre – Fossil Cave". Alice Springs Reptile Centre. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ a b "Centre wants security boost after reptiles killed". ABC. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008.
- ^ "Juveniles bludgeon croc in Alice Springs reptile park". Australian Associated Press. 8 August 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2008.[dead link]
- ^ "Legal Jargon". Northern Territory Magistrates Courts. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
- ^ "Reptile park owner criticises teen attack sentence". ABC. 15 October 2004. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ "Court snaps boy's sentence for attacking crocodile". ABC. 12 May 2005. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ "Boy, 7, goes on animal killing spree in Australian zoo". CBC News. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "Australian boy wreaks zoo havoc while feeding croc". Reuters. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "Boy, 7, goes on animal killing spree in Australian zoo". CBC.ca. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ BBC.co.uk. 3 October 2008. Archivedfrom the original on 6 October 2008.
- ^ "Boy, 7, breaks into zoo, feeds animals to croc". Associated Press. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ Batty, David (10 March 2008). "Australian boy feeds zoo animals to crocodile". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
- South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the originalon 20 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- ^ "Reptile park considers taking legal action against 7yo". ABC. 8 October 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.