Reply #34: Many years ago, I think it was in the 1970s, [View All]

[RebelOne]

there was a place in South Miami called the Miami Serpentarium owned by Bill Haas. I had been there many times.

A little boy fell into the crocodile pit and the croc ate him. I remember that story well. I think the crocodile's name was Cookie. The father let the boy sit on the wall above the pit and he fell in.

Here's an excerpt from an interview with Bill Haas:

» The boy that fell in the pit, that was rough. It happened in 1977. He was 6. I remember I was in the lab doing something and one of the employees comes running in and said a person fell in the crocodile pit. I remember running. I jumped over the wall and on the crocodile’s head. He was partially submerged. I was expecting him to let go, but he didn’t. He backed up in the water and took the child with him.

» I was up all night. What should I do? What should I do? I debated with myself. The crocodile did only what he knew to do. What should I do? I shot him and buried him in the pit, next to a monument. That was a time I considered closing the serpentarium.

Link to story:

www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=49389