June 30, 2009 12:00am
ONE minute she was all toothy grin, the next she was hightailing it.

Lilly, an 80kg alligator, looked quite comfy cruising through Ballarat Wildlife Park in a wheelbarrow, but her second thoughts hit pretty snappily.

Quick at traversing either land or water, Lilly decided her feet were the best mode of transport, but her keepers were quick to tackle her, Steve Irwin-style, when she tried to make her own way through the park.

Owner/manager Greg Parker later said Lilly, 15, was really a "pussy cat".

"But she saw Herald Sun snapper Craig Borrow pointing his big lens her way and she had a bit of a hissy fit," Mr Parker said.

"Maybe she thought he wasn't capturing her best angle in the back of a barrow."

Lilly was soon bundled into her new enclosure to prepare for the spring mating season.

And it will be there that she will truly meet her match.

Lilly is to mate with Nelson, also 15, and a massive 160kg, in the hope that dozens of offspring will result.

The pair mated successfully last year, but none of the eggs hatched.

Lilly will be helped to build a sandy mound in which to lay her dozens of eggs.

Ballarat Wildlife Park is keen to ensure the survival of big reptiles through its breeding program for American alligators and Australia's fresh and saltwater crocodiles.

"Last year was Lilly's first attempt to become a mum and we weren't too disappointed that first time around it didn't happen," Mr Parker said.

"But we'll be watching if she succeeds this year and her eggs hatch.

"Alligator mums are fearsomely protective."