UMVA has learned that a harrowing incident unfolded at a family-owned zoo attraction in Huntingdonshire, leaving a three-year-old boy in critical condition after falling into a crocodile pit.
The emergency services were swiftly called to the scene at the Johnsons of Old Hurst farm on Church Street, Huntingdon, where the young boy had been visiting with his family. Details of the incident are still emerging, but eyewitnesses report that the child somehow ended up in the enclosure.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the boy's family is being supported by officers at the hospital, and the zoo's management has issued a statement expressing their thoughts and prayers for the child's recovery. The Tropical House at the zoo will remain closed until further notice out of respect for the family.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been detained and is being questioned by detectives from the major crime unit. Authorities have confirmed that the man and the child are not known to each other, and investigators are still speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of the incident to piece together the circumstances.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the zoo's owners, the Johnson family, have a long history of working with crocodiles and other exotic animals. The farm, led by Andy Johnson, a fourth-generation farmer, has expanded from a dairy farm to a popular attraction featuring a butcher's, farm shop, tea room, steakhouse, and zoo.
The Johnson family has a particular fascination with crocodiles, having been involved with the animals for 20 years, including Mr. Johnson's involvement with crocodile farming research. Their zoo houses several crocodilians, including Nile crocodiles named Romeo and Cuddles, as well as big cats, bears, and other exotic animals.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the conditions for the animals at the farm are pristine, and they are well fed. A wildlife expert who knows the farm and its owners described the Johnsons as "lovely people" who are going to be "utterly devastated" by the incident.
Detectives are working to determine how the child ended up in the crocodile pit, with one local reporting that the wife of the zoo owner, Tracey Johnson, jumped into the enclosure to save the child. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many expressing their concern for the child's well-being.
As the investigation continues, UMVA has gathered that the zoo marked International Crocodile Day just yesterday with a post on social media, highlighting their passion for crocodiles and their importance to the zoo's history. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by these wild animals, even in a controlled environment.
