Kids get up close and personal with Blondie the saltie at Wildlife Xposure

BLONDIE the saltwater crocodile may not be the usual pet, but for the Morello family it means their family happy snaps have a bit more bite.

Jacques Morello, 4, with Blondie the saltwater crocodile — one of his family’s many animals at their Torquay home. Picture: Jay Town.

BLONDIE the saltwater crocodile is not your typical pet, but for the Morello family it means the family happy snaps have a bit more bite.

Owner of Wildlife Xposure, Xavier Morello, has a house full of animals, reptiles, insects and marine life.

He runs an interactive wildlife education program, and his four-year-old son, Jacques, loves to be with all the animals but is cautious of the more snappy ones.

“Jacques loves Blondie because he is small and blonde, just like him,” Mr Morello said.

“They have a unique bond but Jacques always says ‘he does bite so make sure you put the tape on, dad’.”

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Blondie, 2, is one of four crocodiles in the troupe but Jacques prefers the dingoes and small kangaroos.

“I hope Jacques grows up to have an infatuation with wildlife and nature like I do,” Mr Morello said.

Blondie is kept in a 30C pond at the Morellos’ Torquay home and is used in wildlife presentations where he is a hit with the kids.

“As far as ambassadors go, for crocodiles, he is magnificent,” Mr Morello said.

The croc is expected to grow to 8 meters in length and only needs to be fed once a week.