Most children enjoy playing with a puppy or kitten – or anything which is unlikely to take a chunk out of them.
But fearless three-year-old Charlie Parker prefers sharp and snappy to cute and fluffy as he plays with a North American baby alligator named Gump.
The youngster happily handles the creature while swimming in an alligator pool under the watchful eye of his older brother Stuart.
Charlie boasts an extraordinary knowledge of animals and is laying claim to being Australia’s youngest wildlife ranger.
He comes from a long line of animal carers who own and run the Ballarat Wildlife Park in Victoria.
Proud father and park owner Greg Parker said ‘wildlife warrior’ Charlie had grown up round the sanctuary.
‘We didn’t go out to encourage it but he just loves reptiles,’ he added.
‘Like everybody, he’s frightened of some things, others not so much. He can be an ambassador for conservation and animal welfare and I think it’s great.’
The award-winning park is home to more than 80 kangaroos, koalas, wombats and a variety of reptiles.
source: http://metro.co.uk
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