FOR almost 10 years John Thomson has been one of the brave souls responsible for maintaining the grounds inside the crocodile enclosure at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

The horticulture supervisor said it was certainly no ordinary job.

"It keeps you on your toes that's for sure," he said.

Keeping Mr Thomson company is the one tonne, 40-year-old 5.1m crocodile aptly named Holy.

"Holy as in holy sh**," one reptile keeper put it before explaining the monstrous reptile had also dug himself a hole in part of the pool in which to relax.

When Mr Thomson is near the pool he is anything but relaxed.

"You just keep your head down and you have to keep checking for hand signals.

"It's a completely different ball game when you got a croc like that around," he said.

"It's different to the normal ground maintenance you do."

When three horticulturists work inside the enclosure there will also be two spotters who keep Holy occupied.

The reptile keepers stamp their feet and splash the water with a pole to keep the crocodile away from the other workers.

They also scrutinise pupil movement, breathing and any leg movements.

Mr Thomson joked that he was probably not the crocodile's type.

"I'm skin and bones so I don't worry too much."

Each shift is not simply a matter of turning up and hoping for the best.

Before the work is carried out the team of wildlife carers and horticultural staff have a briefing where they plot out their detailed tasks and refresh their knowledge of the hand signals and codes.

And because of their preparation Mr Thomson said he has not had too many sudden frights.

"We work in the opposite end to where the crocs are.

"We've been twice close to the edge when the croc was there but the guys signalled pretty quick.

"So he has come close to the edge but there were no real emergencies."

Mr Thomson said after working in the crocodile enclosure, mowing his own lawn was a walk in the park.

"You don't have to have eyes in the back of your head."