A NEWLY-built crocodile house was officially opened in Tropiquaria Zoo, near Watchet, on Saturday (September 12) as a new star of the show was unveiled, Munchkin, the African dwarf crocodile.

Munchkin had outgrown her previous home in Bournemouth Oceanarium but had to wait for her move to West Somerset while a community effort helped to construct Tropiquaria’s new ‘Crocodile Cove’.

Donations from the zoo’s supporters and materials and labour provided by a number of local firms helped give a new lease of life to a previously redundant and derelict part of the zoo site.

Munchkin is set to become a new favourite for staff and visitors to Tropiquaria Zoo.Tropiquaria Zoo's 'Crocodile Cove' was officially opened on Saturday.Here's looking at you, kid: Visitors to Tropiquaria Zoo can now see new resident Munchkin the dwarf crocodile.An African dwarf crocodile named Munchkin has been given a new home in Tropiquaria Zoo.Local firms gave materials and labour to help build a crocodile house in Tropiquaria Zoo with supporters making donations to part-fund it.Tropiquaria Zoo wants visitors to learn more about the lives and importance of crocodiles.

Munchkin is set to become a new favourite for staff and visitors to Tropiquaria Zoo.

Tropiquaria Zoo's 'Crocodile Cove' was officially opened on Saturday.

Here's looking at you, kid: Visitors to Tropiquaria Zoo can now see new resident Munchkin the dwarf crocodile.

An African dwarf crocodile named Munchkin has been given a new home in Tropiquaria Zoo.

Local firms gave materials and labour to help build a crocodile house in Tropiquaria Zoo with supporters making donations to part-fund it.

Tropiquaria Zoo wants visitors to learn more about the lives and importance of crocodiles.

A Tropiquaria spokesperson said: “We have endless thanks to all of you who have helped our little team realise our ambitions for Munchkin’s new home.

“Particularly the team at DU Waterscapes, who once again donated their time and expertise to recreate a forest pool that these little crocs call home.

“We are so pleased with it, and we think Munchkin is quite fond, too.

“Colin and Ruby also donated their time to build the foundation walls for the enclosure, and managed to put up with our last minute changes to plan.

“And, of course, keeper Sam Tull raised a huge amount of money to support the project by running from coast to coast, and doing it all in crocs.

“These donations have contributed hugely and we could not have done it without them.

“We are pleased to see the space finally become a fantastic little addition to our zoo.”

Munchkin replaces former favourite Mrs Nasty, a spectacled caiman which was the zoo’s oldest resident and which died of an old age condition earlier this year.

The spokesperson said: “The previous caiman enclosure was aging and outdated and we knew we could do better than a simple refurb.

“What started as a modest plan for an expansion of the enclosure soon became a new enclosure itself.”