“If that’s not object play, I don’t know what is.”
Dusty Rose, an impressive 11-foot crocodile with striking emerald eyes and a fiery personality, has long ruled the Daintree River in Queensland, Australia. For years, she’s been the unchallenged guardian of her territory.
So when David White, who runs Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruises, spotted her amusing herself recently, his curiosity got the better of him.
To his surprise, the massive croc wasn’t hunting or patrolling — she was entertaining herself with a simple feather.
“She seemed intent on balancing it gently on her snout,” White shared on Facebook. “And when she managed it, she looked thrilled, almost as if she were showing it off.”
Each time the feather drifted away, Dusty Rose nudged it back into place, repeating the playful ritual for a remarkable 18 minutes straight.
“Again and again — feather on, feather off,” White wrote. “If that doesn’t qualify as play, I don’t know what does.”
Having spent nearly three decades on the river, White noted how rarely people witness crocodiles in such a lighthearted mood.
In Queensland, crocs are typically admired — and feared — for their patience, stealth, and power. While they can’t breathe underwater, they can remain submerged for up to an hour, silently waiting for prey. Most of the time, they roam rivers, wetlands, and coastal waters in search of food or mates, always ready to defend themselves with their formidable jaws.
Dusty Rose is no exception. As one of the largest and oldest females in the region (estimated to be nearly 50 years old), she has defended her place many times — from rival females who ventured too close to her long-time partner, Scarface, and even from an insistent male who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“She’s never been afraid of a fight,” White explained. “It’s rare for females to challenge males, but she’s a tough warrior.”
Though White had never witnessed Dusty Rose at play before, her joyful dedication to the feather suggests this wasn’t her first time finding fun in her environment. Like many animals, she may indulge in play more often than people realize.
One amused commenter summed it up perfectly under White’s post: “This isn’t a crocodile — it’s a cat having the midnight zoomies.”