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MAXIMO
Maximo is a "Saltie", as he is called in his homeland of Australia.
He was hatched from an egg collected by aboriginees along the Edward River in
Pormpurraw, located off the Gulf of Carpenteria on the Cape York Peninsula. As a
juvenile he was transported to the Cairns Crocodile Farm, the largest commercial crocodile
farm in Australia. It was there in a setting of natural mangrove wetlands that
MAXIMO grew to his impressive length of 15 feet 3 inches and to a weight of
1250 pounds. He hatched in 1971 and may live to be 60, or even 80 years of age.
During his years at the Cairns Crocodile Farm, MAXIMO lived with his mate SYDNEY.
In the summer of 2003, famous Australian crocodile hunter George Craig first saw MAXIMO
and, impressed by his size and striking coloration, he contacted the Alligator Farm
and suggested that MAXIMO would add tremendously to the Park's collection. In late
October of 2003, both MAXIMO and SYDNEY were brought here after careful coordination
with the Australian government, the Cairns Crocodile Farm, George Craig and the Alligator
Farm's curators. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is the only zoological park in the world
with a collection of all 23 species of living crocodilians. MAXIMO is now the Park's most
impressive and scientifically significant specimen.
Continuing scientific studies and conservation efforts supported by the St. Augustine
Alligator Farm and the American Zoological Association are intended to contribute to the body of knowledge
concerning these magnificent reptiles and to help assure their preservation. It will be thrilling
indeed to watch as MAXIMO continues to grow beyond his current impressive dimensions.
NEWS FLASH!!! Fatherhood to the Max
Alligator Farm's Maximo is proud dad of 18
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