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30th Sep 2013

Living snappily ever after – British man shares his home with crocodile

It wouldn’t be everyone’s perfect idea of retirement, but one man seems perfectly happy to share his home with a crocodile.

JOE

It wouldn’t be everyone’s perfect idea of retirement, but one man seems perfectly happy to share his home with a crocodile.

A retired prison officer, Chris Weller has become known locally as the British Steve Irwin after living with his pet crocodile Caesar for the past six years.

Chris has spent more than £25,000 making his home crocodile-friendly and converted the downstairs of his home into a habitat for the crocodile to roam in – including building a pool into his conservatory.

Just a foot long when he was bought, Chris says his working day revolves around Caesar, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“He’s my closest companion and most of my day revolves around feeding, cleaning and entertaining him,” he told The Express.

“Most people are terrified when they find out I live with a crocodile, but I’ve raised him since he was a baby and now he’s completely docile.

chriscae

Chris and Caesar bonding

He also pointed out that given his career in the prison service, he was perfectly suited to such a feared pet.

“I spent four decades keeping dangerous animals behind locks and gates so it’s no different here,” he added.

We recently saw the Brazilian family that house seven tigers, so maybe we are just old fashioned in thinking that a cat or a dog is enough.

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Topics:

crocodile,pet