Goliath the crocodile is our 4.1m estuarine friend. He has lived at Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome for 12 years.
When he arrived at the Dome in 2003, he had to be crane-lifted into his enclosure – he was just a bit too big for the elevator!
Goliath has his own enclosure at the Dome. You can view him from above on the boardwalk, or from below through the glass window into his pond.
For the more adventurous, you can also zipline over his enclosure when you complete the Hi-ZOOM ropes course.
We have daily feeding sessions for Goliath at 3:00pm which is a great way to learn more about Goliath, but also a chance to see how quickly he can move. He might be perfectly still at first, but when he sees food – he can move incredibly fast!
Facts about Estuarine Crocodiles:
- Estuarine crocodiles are the largest of all living reptiles and considered to be the oldest living dinosaur on earth with ancestors dating back over 240 million years ago
- The males of this species can reach sizes of up to 7 metres long and weigh as much as 2,000 kilograms
- These reptiles are one of two species of crocodile found in Australia (the other is the Freshwater Crocodile, which you can also meet at the Dome)
- Estuarine crocodiles can live in salt water which is why they are often referred to as “salties”, however they usually reside in mangrove swamps, estuaries and lower stretches of rivers along the top end of Australia
