Crims study crocs in Australia

Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa
Published: Thursday September 28, 2006

Sydney- A prison in the far-north of Australia has begun a novel day-release programme that brings criminals and crocodiles together, news reports said Thursday. Inmates in Darwin's Berrimah Prison are enrolled on an 11-week course at the country's largest crocodile farm that gives them the skills to be reptile wranglers.

Darwin Crocodile Farm proprietor Mick Burns said prisoners start off looking after the smaller of the 36,000 crocodiles he keeps and then graduate to handling the larger ones.

Burns told national broadcaster ABC that some prisoners had asked about getting jobs when they have served their time. Burns is keen because staffing has always been a problem.

"I mean it's a pretty demanding job out here," he said. "It's very hot, it's testing - a lot of people aren't comfortable around crocodiles. So if we can broaden the number of people who can work on a farm, then that's a benefit."

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa