Contender? Ready! ...Crocodile? Ready!!

Blog written by David Sandford [GreatDaney]
Published in General-Culture at 11:22 on Sunday, 2nd August 2009

Re: Boy fed zoo reptiles to crocodile

Right, before I start I want to make it clear this news story shocked me completely. It's terrible. If you haven't bothered to click the link and just want the gist of it, a 7-year-old boy in Australia climbed into the enclosures in a zoo and killed some animals (reptiles in particular... yeah, I don't think they count either). He killed some with a stone ("bludgeoned") and threw ("was seen hurling") some into the crocodile enclosure to be consumed by the 11 foot long crocodile.

I personally would have extreme trouble performing either of these activities, even if it was just as an act of mercy (although death by crocodile doesn't exactly scream "mercy killing") - so this story actually makes me feel really angry and ashamed that someone would want to do something like this.

The seven-year-old in full reptile-flinging flow

The boy, as a minor, cannot be held responsible for his actions, (something I would suggest that he seems to be aware of!). Consequently, there's a chance that his parents will be sued. Now I s'pose there's some logic in that as they were legally obliged to be in control of their child, but you've got to feel a bit sorry for them as well - "streuth... he's done what?? ...God, I just looked away for a second, I was buying an ice cream... ...what? 99 flake... ...yeah, they are the best..."

The thing is, if you lose your child in the zoo for a minute you can hardly expect him to embark on some sort of lizard massacre! So it all seems a bit mean, but I suppose it's nice to hold someone accountable.

I obviously enjoy the bizarre nature of this news story, but I also liked the way the article comments on it and particularly the words of the (wonderfully named) zoo director, Rex Neindorf.

The article reads:

"The attack happened on Wednesday morning after the boy entered the zoo by jumping over the security fence and evading sensor alarms"

...

"The fact a seven-year-old can wreak so much havoc in such a short time, it's unbelievable," zoo director Rex Neindorf told Reuters news agency.

Rex Neindorf comes across as if he's considering the idea for a game show (or perhaps thinking of suggesting the boy to the army as some sort of secret weapon). He seems genuinely impressed with the amount of damage a 7-year-old boy has done and particularly that he has achieved it in such a short space of time, almost implying a competitive element. Added Neindorf, "it's unbelievable." The section about evading the alarms and security just adds to the "challenge" element of it.

Could this be the next big thing?

"Reptile Holocaust" (Bravo, 9pm).

"All you've gotta do is get past the security, smash up the 'Western blue-tongued lizards' and fling the 20-year-old goanna to the crocodile... All for fantastic prizes!!"

I know Rex is rubbing his hands together.

Related Links:
Boy fed zoo reptiles to crocodile
Tags: Zoo, Reptile Holocaust, Rampant children, Rex Neindorf

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