We’re sharing our property with a crocodile called Betty
Suellen Hinde - Queensland Editor |
After 35 years transforming a dairy farm in Far North Queensland to its natural environment, the owners have got the big tick of approval from Mother Nature – a crocodile has moved into their front yard.
“Betty”, a three-metre croc, is living in a pond at the front of the Daintree Village property of Barbara Maslen and Allen Sheather.
It is the fifth year in a row Betty has returned at the same time to hang out in their wetland that comprises three ponds about one hundred metres from their house.
Barbara and Allen have spent almost 20 years restoring the property that was cleared for agriculture a Century ago.
“It had been completely cleared of native vegetation except for a few inaccessible steep gullies.”
The couple has planted more than 20,000 native trees and plants and allowed natural regeneration to reforest the steep hills on the property which is classified as wet tropics.
Barbara, 68, purchased the 100-acre property with her former husband Peter Maslen in 1985.
“It was a former dairy farm called Misery Hill that was cleared in the 1930s,” she said.
“We are very lucky to live here and we feel it is a privilege, so we want to respect and protect that and live here as one with the environment.”
Barbara said they are careful and “we don’t wade through the water or do anything in a habitual manner around the wetland”.
Allen has been rather close to the croc while lying in the bird hide that overlooks one of the ponds and watches the crocodile “chase geese”. “It’s very hard to keep your cool and not shout out to the ducks, “get out, get out”, he said.
Barbara said they used to go “toading” at night until: “Allen was up ahead a fair way and I was coming behind, looking down picking up toads with the torch on my head, when I caught a glimpse of a red bright eye shining.
“Needless to say, I retreated quite quickly. Betty was metres away from me and was moving from one pond to another – I was not in any danger.”
Barbara said the couple have a passion for plants, but like all wildlife, from frogs to reptiles, birds, spiders and other “swampy things”
“What’s amazing is once you start, other plants start coming back as well, with the animals coming here, they bring the seeds, and they grow themselves,” she said
“One of our dreams was, if we attracted a number of critters, wouldn’t it be great if they came back of their own accord.”
Eight Cassowaries – the world’s most dangerous birds – have also become frequent visitors to the property over the past seven years.
Barbara is equally careful with the Cassowaries – though a shy, cautious bird – they have a powerful kick and clawed feet that can inflict severe damage.
“I was walking around one day, and I ran into one with their chicks,” she said.
“I squatted down to show no threat but the big one started drumming (a low rumbling noise the bird makes as a warning that vibrates through their body), so I knew it was a good idea to back up.”
