A freshwater crocodile has been captured from a creek behind a Bunnings store in Newcastle — about 2,000 kilometres south of its natural habitat.
On Saturday, February 28, a police officer in Wallsend called the Australian Reptile Park after spotting the reptile in the waterway behind the hardware store.
“Initially, I was very surprised, because we get a lot of phone calls from people saying they’ve seen crocodiles,” said Billy from the Australian Reptile Park. “But the police officer said he had a photo to back it up, and when he sent it through, I thought, right, we’re on.”
A needle in a haystack
The team spent two nights and more than 12 hours scouring three kilometres of creek by boat. On the second night, Billy spotted the crocodile on the return trip, catching the reflection of its eyes in the spotlight, just as the team was about to give up.
“I was feeling really defeated. We turned the boat around, and there he was, right behind us. I’ve got goosebumps now thinking about it.”
The capture left the whole team emotional. “If you knew the needle in a haystack that we pursued over the last 48 hours,” Billy said. “I feel like I’m gonna start crying.”
A long way from home
Freshwater crocodiles live in northern Australia, across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. They grow smaller than saltwater crocodiles and are generally less aggressive, but they can still deliver a serious bite.
“You’ve got to go about 2,000 kilometres north to even hit freshwater crocodile habitat,” Billy said. “Down here in New South Wales, Newcastle of all places, it’s just mind-blowing.”
Vets cleared the crocodile — believed to be over 10 years old — the following morning. “His skin looked beautiful, he’s in excellent condition — very healthy.”
An illegal pet dumped in the wild
The Australian Reptile Park believes someone kept the crocodile as an illegal pet before releasing it into the creek, either because they panicked or because the animal had grown too large to manage safely. Keeping a freshwater crocodile without a licence is illegal in NSW. The park is urging anyone with information to contact authorities.
The crocodile is now living at the park while authorities decide on a permanent home. The team searched the creek thoroughly and believed he was the only one in the water.
“We are glad no one was hurt, and the little croc is safe in our care,” the park said. “Remember, if you ever see unusual wildlife, don’t approach it. Report the sighting and let trained professionals handle it safely. Freshwater crocodiles can cause serious injury when not handled correctly.”
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