Darwin crocodile wrangler Craig West creates bondage range made from crocodile skin
MEGAN PALIN
NT News
February 05, 2015 8:32AM
This could only happen in the Territory. A very funny read and some naughty innuendo: 
STICKS and stones may break one’s bones but croc skin, chains and whips excite some.
A Territory reptile wrangler who has salties as pets in his backyard has launched a range of handmade bondage gear and says “the sky’s the limit” when it comes to appealing to local and international markets.
The Soft Croc collection by Craig West is made from timber, metal and croc skin and includes “**bleep**-whackers” or paddles, “bum spammers” or whips, ankle and hand restraints, leashes, cuffs and “dog collars for people”.
Mr West said he was inspired to create the Soft Croc range because he was tired of designers making “boring **bleep**”.
“Croc skin is the best and most expensive leather in the world … If you’re going to get bashed by something then why not go the best?” Mr West said.
“But if you’ve been cheating on someone you will get caught because you’re going to go home with bruises on your **bleep**, just remember that.”
Mr West said the pieces from the collection had been tried and tested and were quality assured.
“Weirdos from the internet ... have been road testing them and (there were) no emergency ward or hospital visits or anything like that ... it all went well,” he said.
“The **bleep** smackers are like cricket bats where you can whack each other on the **bleep**,” he said.
“It’s a bit of fun for people who like some rough and tumble in the bedroom.
“You can be as sick as you want to be, really.”
Mr West said his 3m pet crocs Mick and Lucy would not face futures as gimp masks or other novelty items. “They’re safe,” he said.
“I made a promise to them ... (so) I buy the croc skins from Crocodylus Park.”
Mr West said he conducted thorough research into sex toys before designing and creating his range.
“I had to do a lot of dodgy stuff,” he said.
“I went to the sex shops and I was the fella with the overcoat except I had my camera and I was taking photos of harnesses and all this other weird stuff and c**k rings and stuff like that.
“(The shop assistants would) say ‘are you right mate?’ And I’d say ‘yeah’ and then off I’d go.”
Mr West said he had received some criticism from animal advocates for using croc skins for his range.
“I’m fully permitted and nothing is taken from the wild,” he said.
Parks and Wildlife spokesman Edwin Edlund said permits were required to buy and sell croc skin, as well as being in possession of crocodiles — dead or alive — or to hunt them.
The Soft Croc range is available now via the Soft Croc Facebook page.
