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All Australia Darwin Cage of Death

Cage of Death

Visitors can swim with vicious predators in Crocosaurus Cove's plastic daredevil enclosure.

Darwin, Australia

Added By
Alex Timian
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A crocodile bites at the cage   Rantz on Flickr
A crocodile bites at the cage   Rantz on Flickr
The vicious cage of death   Rantz on Flickr
Fishing for crocodiles   Sweet One on Flickr
Feeding time at Crocosaurus Cove   pyjama on Flickr
Close encounters   Simon Jones / Atlas Obscura User
Hanging with friends   Simon Jones / Atlas Obscura User
The viewing gallery   Simon Jones / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Crocosaurus Cove is more reminiscent of Jackass and Jaws than the average tourist attraction.

Willing visitors are put into the reassuringly-named Cage of Death, a 1.5-inch thick glass enclosure that park officials claim can withstand the attack of a wild, toothy beast. The glass box is lowered into a salt-water tank, where the jaws of Choppa, a monstrous and aggressive 18-foot crocodile, wait anxiously for a snack. Meat is attached to the bottom of the cage and thrill-seekers spend 15 harrowing minutes below the surface, as the nasty 2,000-pound croc thrashes at the sides. Despite the protection of the glass, scratches from the predator's teeth are visible on the cage, and even hardened adrenaline junkies are reminded of the danger they face on the other side of the glass.

Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow up to 20 feet long, are very common in the Northern Territory and are a basic part of life for many Australians, which helped to spur excitement over the cage. Warnings at most bodies of water often frighten away visitors, but the chance to visit safely with the famous reptiles down under was an instant attraction.

Opened in July 2008, the Cage of Death instantly caused waves with its $35 million budget as well as animal rights concerns that the crocodile was being harassed at the park. Those concerns have done little to dissuade visitors, who rank the thrill of near death by a crocodile at the top of the adrenaline scale. Along with the Cage of Death, the crocodile from Crocodile Dundee is also housed at the park, along with many other species of fish, snake, and reptile. 

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Animals

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Corner of Mitchell & Peel Street, accessible from the Mitchell 178 Bus

Community Contributors

Added By

atimian

Edited By

Rachel, Blindcolour, Simon Jones

  • Rachel
  • Blindcolour
  • Simon Jones

Published

November 6, 2014

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Sources
  • http://coolthingsinrandomplaces.com/?p=373
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1083788/Pictured-The-theme-parks-cage-death-drops-tourists-crocodiles-lair.html
  • http://www.odditycentral.com/news/crocodile-cage-of-death.html
Cage of Death
58 Mitchell Street
Darwin, 0800
Australia
-12.462333, 130.839162
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Darwin Oil Storage Tunnels

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Photo of Darwin

Darwin

Australia

Places 2

Nearby Places

Darwin Oil Storage Tunnels

Darwin, Australia

miles away

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miles away

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Photo of Darwin

Darwin

Australia

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