CAGE OF DEATH

*My uncle sent this via e-mail to my parents, and mum sent it straight to me. She knows me too well, I love crocodiles!*

The theme parks 'cage of death' that drops tourists into a crocodile's lair

Without the cage you wouldn't stand a chance swimming with a massive saltwater crocodile. But for brave punters who still want to get cosy with a feisty croc, a new Australian tourist attraction is offering the chance for a close encounter in the safety of a clear acrylic box dubbed the 'cage of death'. Just 4cm of acrylic, a pair of goggles and a swimsuit, will separate thrill-seekers from the jaws of Choppa, a saltwater crocodile.Close encounter: A tourist dives into a cage partially immersed in a crocodile pen at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin, Australia. The cage has no bars, unlike cages used in shark dives, which prevents the reptiles from gripping on but deep teeth scratches are visible on the sides, deterring some hesitant participants. Top End tourists climb into the clear box before being lowered into Choppa's lair. They then spend 5 minutes inside the 9ft high cage and watch Choppa, who lost both front feet while fighting other crocodiles, trying to take a bite out of them.

Getting cosy: Choppa the crocodile looks like he's 'affectionately' trying to hug the dare-devil tourist. The attraction at Crocosaurus Cove in the heart of the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory has been given high marks by adrenaline-junkies. 'This is it!' said self-confessed thrill-seeker Mark Clayton from Darwin after spending 20 minutes face-to-face with the crocodiles. 'I dive with sharks, large rays, moray eels ... but it's not this close. It's exhilarating to get that close to a crocodile of that size.'Face-to-face: The experience is made even more thrilling for tourists because the cage has no bars. Saltwater crocodiles, known locally as "salties," are the largest crocodile species, with the males growing up to 19.6ft long and weighing up to 2,204lbs. They are found in Southeast Asia but the highest numbers are found in northern Australia. Michael Scott, who opened the attraction in July, said there was plenty of demand for the thrill. 'In the Northern Territory, the saltwater crocodile is an icon and is part of our life. They are always in the news, either in someones swimming pool or killing someones favourite horse,' Mr Scott said.Hunting for food: Up to two people are allowed in the cage at the one time The most famous crocodile to be housed at the park is Burt, who starred as the beast that nearly ate Linda Koslowski's character in Crocodile Dundee. Although saltwater crocodiles are dangerous, fatal attacks on humans are rare in Australia with only one or two reported a year. Warning signs are displayed at rivers, lake and beaches in areas inhabited by crocodiles.Dicing with danger: Swimming face-to-face with a massive saltwater crocodile might not be everyone idea of fun but thrill-seekers are snapping up Australia's newest tourist attraction. The most recent fatality was reported last month in Queensland when the suspected remains of a British man were found inside a crocodile. Arthur Booker, 62, was last seen checking crab pots on a crocodile-infested river in the state's north.

*We have the warning signs everywhere up here, and crocs are seen in our river all the time, not 500 meters from the CBD. It's just a part of life here. With all the flooding up north (62% of QLD is now declared a disaster zone!!) crocs are simply cruising down the main streets. We're so lucky to have avoided any damage so far, but with another cyclone brewing, you never know!*