A CROCODILE became a flying reptile when its enclosure was picked up by strong winds and thrown 10m before smashing to the ground at Birchip.
Wild weather buffeted Birchip last weekend, raining out the annual Birchip Quarter Horse Cup where a mobile zoo was displaying Australian animals.
Without warning, in what one person described as “like a tornado”, rain, strong winds and thunder hit an otherwise sunny day.
A total of 20mm — 80 points — of rain fell on the Saturday afternoon.
The savage conditions wreaked destruction at the racetrack, damaging marquees and even sending a small crocodile flying through the air.
Jamie and Kim’s Mobile Zoo owner Jamie Lind said they hadn’t been able to move the crocodile to safety before the onset of the wild weather.
The wind became so strong that the glass enclosure the reptile was in was picked up and thrown 10m, breaking as it hit the ground.
“The croc just lay there — it was petrified,” he said.
In a scene that could be straight from Hollywood, Mr Lind said himself and another man holding down a marquee were nearly picked up off the ground.
“It started to rain so we started packing everything up,” Mr Lind said.
“Then it picked up, the wind and the rain — it was phenomenal the strength of it.
“It really felt like a tornado — the power of it.
“To be honest, it all blew over in about 10 minutes, and the sun came out — you never would have known it happened.”
Birchip Racing Club president Bern Hogan said the weather “blew up out of nowhere”.
“We ran a couple of races… they were just mounting up for the third it was just so quick and so violent it was just one of those freak things,” Ms Hogan said.
“The ticket hut blew over with the [operator] in it.
“She was okay, but she had a cash box full of money, she was trying to catch it — cheques, $50 notes, $100 notes were flying everywhere.”
To help the mobile zoo replace the damaged gear, head to www.jamieandkimsmobilezoo.com, and a ‘Running of the Bulls Footrace’ event will be held on May 23 to raise funds for the Birchip Racing Club.
For the full story, pick up a copy of Monday’s Guardian (March 24).
