A three-year-old boy was thrown today, Thursday, into a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in central England, near Huntingdon, by a man police said did not appear to know him. The child was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition, and a man in his 30s was arrested.
Police officer Verity Macon said investigators are speaking with people who were at the zoo during the incident to understand what happened. She added, “At this stage, we do not believe the arrested man and the child know each other.” She said officers were supporting the child’s family at the hospital and that their thoughts were with them.
The family-run zoo describes itself as an active farm and zoo with tropical gardens in the countryside. It houses more than 100 animals, including African lions, Bengal tigers, sloths, and other species, in addition to crocodiles. The owners are Andy Johnson and his wife, Tracy.
Johnson became interested in crocodilians after a visit to Florida and later acquired several from a private collector. The zoo now keeps a crocodile and alligator collection used mainly for meat waste disposal. The animals are kept in a former cattle barn, and the zoo says crocodile farming has helped conservation and offers a sustainable alternative to overfishing. Johnson also helped prepare a European document on crocodilian breeding, welfare, and care, and has previously said he would like his body to be eaten by the crocodiles after he dies.
