Cleaning the Crocodiles Windows

WHEN I'm cleaning windows … Paignton Zoo crocodile keeper Rod Keen jumps into help but only after a dangerous 'saltie' has been locked away. Window cleaning is a big part of a zoo keeper's life, says the zoo, and mostly it is a pretty routine job.
A zoo spokesman said: "And then there are the underwater viewing windows in Crocodile Swamp" The £1.5million exhibit which opened earlier this year to critical acclaim was closed for a morning recently so staff could clean the underwater viewing windows. The spokesman said: "A magnetic device is used to clean the acrylic windows in Crocodile Swamp. It is used from outside but holds a cleaning pad on the inside.
"However, algae managed to get a hold on the windows of the last exhibit, containing the 2.6-metre female saltwater crocodile, before staff had a chance to use it, which is why staff had to resort to good old elbow grease."
Crocodile Swamp was designed with interconnecting pools, so all the keepers had to do was move the female Cuban crocodile out of her pool and into the neighbouring lily pond. The saltwater crocodile was then moved into the pool vacated by the Cuban. The vacant pool was drained and staff moved in to start work, armed with cloths and waders.
The job took head reptile keeper Rod Keen and keeper Andy Meek several hours to complete.
The spokesman said: "With the water in the pools at 25° Celsius and the sunlight, the algae can build up very quickly on rock and window surfaces. "The state-of-the-art filtration system keeps the water clear despite the daily cocktail of plant material, small pieces of food and crocodile dung."
Neil Bemment, the zoo's operations director, said: "Windows throughout the zoo need to be as clean as possible so visitors can get the best possible view of the animals.
"Cleaning underwater viewing windows is a job aquariums and places like Living Coasts have to do regularly, but these are probably among the trickiest windows in the zoo for us to clean.
"From now on we should be able to use the magnetic cleaner and not have to move the animals." Crocodile Swamp holds more water than three domestic-sized swimming pools or 2,500 bath-tubs. It is home to Cuban crocodiles, Nile crocodiles and a saltwater crocodile, plus four species of large snake. There are five interconnecting pools of different sizes containing 255 cubic metres or more than 250 tonnes of water. See previous story by clicking the alligator.

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