Animal Rescue

Prior to 2002, the pet stores sold crocodilians as pets. As the animals grew larger, more costly to maintain and more dangerous to handle, well-intended owners sought alternative housing for their “pets”. At that time there were no such alternatives.

That same year Mr. Illman and Ms. Bruce began taking the unwanted crocodilians in and providing the necessary care for their survival. Mr. Illman’s ability to safely hand and care for the animals fired his passion and belief that since crocodiles should not be purchased as pets, people needed to be told that “Crocs are not pets”. Soon after, CrocTalk was established.

In 2004, after being granted “Recognized Facility Status” by the Regional District of Central Okanagan, the partners became legally able to not only rescue and house displaced crocodilians, but they were encouraged to “go forth and teach”, and that is exactly what they have done.

Since then the partners have rescued just over 30 crocodilians. Each crocodilian housed at CrocTalk is a non-indigenous animal, legally named an “alien” species to British Columbia. Unlike rescue facilities for domestic animals, crocodilians cannot be “adopted” by the general public in Canada – they are prohibited.

Options, after rescue, are to export them for release into the wild, to euthanize them, or to keep them in a captive-care facility.

Regrettably, these reptiles were born in captivity, not in nature. If a care facility is not available, the export challenges make it virtually impossible to place the crocodilians in their natural homeland. In rare situations where export is possible, these captive-bred crocodilians, when released into the wild, stand a slim chance of survival. The remaining option is to euthanize them.

In his upbeat educational Croc “Talks” Mr. Illman teaches about the biology, ecology and history of these animals. To adults he stresses that since future leaders will be our children, their beliefs on the environment will ultimately guide their decision-making as they grow. Therefore, for us to change the future, we must teach children that conserving all species of animals and plants is necessary.

As previous guests would tell you - Join the folks at CrocTalk Conservation and Rescue for a “Unique Journey into the World of Crocodilians”. A visit you won’t soon forget!