Croc castle: Crocodile Pui Pui at her new home at Hong Kong Wetland Park.

Crocodile Pui Pui has moved into her permanent home in Hong Kong Wetland Park from the Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden.

Pui Pui arrived this morning, transported in a crate to avoid any unnecessary stress on the reptile.

Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Assistant Director (Conservation) Lay Chik-chuen said the six-year-old female will be put under observation in an indoor holding area of its pool. She will be released into the outside pool when she gets used to her new environment. In the meantime, visitors can watch Pui Pui on closed-circuit television.

As the park is Pui Pui's permanent home, Mr Lay said there is no need for the public to rush to visit the croc.

Home sweet home

Pui Pui's home has been designed to provide her with a healthy and comfortable living environment. The outdoor enclosure is about 8 metres by 9 metres, of which 70% is pool area.

With a maximum depth of one metre, the pool is landscaped with plants to provide sheltered areas, hiding places and basking areas. Outdoor facilities include infra-red heaters, a heat pad and a weigh scale. Water in the pool is continuously circulated through a filtration system.

In the 14-square-metre indoor holding area, there are large windows and ventilation fans, along with heaters.

Measuring 1.75 metres and weighing 19.5kg, Pui Pui may can grow to three metres when mature. The park enclosure is purpose-built to cope with her maturity.