Ramsbottom's Crocodile Dundee returns
1:57pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008
RAMSBOTTOM'S answer to Crocodile Dundee is back in town - and he has brought his animals with him.
Joe McQuaid, known as Crocodile Joe, moved to Queensland, Australia, two years ago to fulfil his dream of educating people about crocodiles.
The 39-year-old father-of-two, of St Edmund Hall Close, Ramsbottom, toured shopping malls, schools, hospitals and children's parties with a show designed to increase awareness of crocodile conservation.
Now Joe, who ran the Apollo gym in Ramsbottom for 10 years, is going into business here in the UK with the same unique show.
He has brought back four stuffed crocodiles and he wants to take them - and his large collection of live snakes, reptiles and insects - on the road to children's parties and shopping centres.
"It's a unique show," Joe said. "This is the only chance most people will get to come so close to a crocodile.
"In nature, if it were a live croc, it would be the last thing you would see.
"I've also got live snakes and other reptiles - the house is like a zoo. Children have the chance to touch them and learn how they live."
But as well as providing excitement and entertainment, Joe has a serious environmental message to spread.
One of his crocodiles - a huge 14-foot specimen - died from eating plastic bags.
Joe hopes to use the dead crocodile to illustrate concerns about plastic bags and to educate children about the impact our lifestyle has on nature.
Joe said: "They opened his stomach and it was full of plastic.
"They were going to cut him up and sell him but I said I was going to take the croc back to the UK to show people what had happened.
"The same thing is happening to whales, dolphins and turtles.
"I support these initiatives designed to cut down on plastic bags."
Joe, whose 14-year-old son Joe Junior attends Woodhey High School, was fascinated by crocodiles as a youngster.
His passion only increased in adult life after he went to Australia for a holiday He began making annual trips down under' to learn about the giant reptiles.
Anyone interested in booking Crocodile Joe can call him on 0798 938 2606 or visit his website www.crocodilejoes.com