ZOO keeper Sam Tull is to run not one, but two consecutive marathons later this month to raise funds for a new crocodile house being built in the Tropiquaria animal sanctuary, near Watchet.

And Sam will be running in… Crocs.

He has already raised more than £500 of his £1,400 target for the 52-mile run from the coast in Seaton, East Devon, to Watchet on May 24.

The money will go to help build a new crocodile house in Tropiquaria, using a new area of the zoo for the first time.

The new crocodile habitat will provide a home for Munchkin, an African dwarf crocodile which has outgrown its current premises in Bournemouth Oceanarium.

Munchkin will replace the late Mrs Nasty, Tropiquaria’s oldest resident and much-loved spectacled caiman, which died of an old age condition in January.

A Tropiquaria spokesperson said: “We recently announced plans to create a new crocodile habitat in the reptile house, ready to welcome Munchkin in the coming months.

“We were so pleased to see so many people just as excited as we were.

“After further planning, though, we are taking a different route, and we are so excited to announce a brand new crocodile house coming to Tropiquaria.

“Construction on the new crocodile house will start shortly, bringing an entirely new area of the zoo into use for the first time to create something amazing.

“The area will house a fantastic new habitat for Munchkin the crocodile to move into, alongside a few other habitats for some more exciting creatures to call home.

“The area will also focus on education and conservation, becoming an important hub within the zoo for learning and understanding crocodiles and the wider natural world.

“We are so excited to bring this vision to life, but we need your help to do so, and keeper Sam has stepped up to take on the fund-raising challenge to beat all challenges - not one marathon, but two.”

The journey from Seaton to Watchet will follow the East Deane Way trail, which is roughly the equivalent of two full marathons.

Sam, who has set up a GoFundMe page, said: “I will be doing it all in crocs.

“This is all to help raise money to support the opening of the new crocodile house at Tropiquaria, an important new hub for exploring the importance of conservation and education around crocodiles and the wider natural world.

“If you are able to help support me in helping to create something amazing then I am hugely grateful.”

Tropiquaria works with animal rescue services across the UK to provide ‘forever homes’ for animals in need.

Last year, Tropiquaria rescued Bode the bobcat just hours before he was due to be euthanised following the closure of a big cat centre.

Hundreds of people responded to the zoo’s call to help raise £3,500 to build a new enclosure for Bode, who quickly became a favourite with visitors.

Now, the zoo is hoping people will similarly respond to its call for help to build a home for Munchkin.