Reptile experts from a NSW wildlife park have successfully captured a freshwater crocodile a day after it was spotted wading through a suburban creek in Newcastle.
The croc was first seen in Ironbark Creek at Wallsend on Saturday afternoon.
Police established a perimeter around the waterway to stop the croc escaping and to keep curious onlookers safe.
Australian Wildlife Park rangers finally found the crocodile on Sunday evening. (ABC Newcastle: Nakita Jager)
Croc handlers from the Australian Reptile Park and the SES were called in to try to retrieve the animal, but had no luck on Saturday.
They returned again and safely captured the croc late on Sunday.
Australian Reptile Park keeper Billy Collett, who captured the croc, told ABC Newcastle Breakfast’s Paul Culliver he was shocked to hear it was in the suburbs.
The Australian Reptile Park’s Billy Collett, pictured here with a different animal, caught the croc in Newcastle. (Supplied: Australian Reptile Park. File.)
“We got a phone call from the police in Newcastle saying there was a croc on the loose behind Bunnings at Wallsend and I thought, you’ve got to be joking me,” he said.
Mr Collett said trying to locate the small croc was like “finding a needle in a haystack”, until it suddenly appeared.
“It was a really long jump that I had to do … I just dove into the [water],” he said.
“I had a head torch that had come off when I hit the water and just everything just went dark.
“I got a hand on him mid-body and yeah, I couldn’t believe it, I caught him.”
Mr Collett said even young crocs could be quite powerful.
“They’re still really strong and they still bite … they’ll ruin your day pretty quick from a bite from one, even one that size.”
Croc to be assessed
On Saturday afternoon, locals in the area posted videos and pictures to social media, alerting the public to the sighting.
A police statement said there had been no other reports of crocodiles in the area since the capture, and it was not known how the reptile got there.
Mr Collett said he and his crew brought the crocodile back to the Australian Reptile Park for assessment.
The freshwater crocodile was spotted in Ironbark Creek near Newcastle. (Supplied: Stephanie Kirsop)
“Obviously his welfare is our biggest priority, he would have perished down here for sure,” he said.
“We’re taking him to the vet for a vet check, and then we are going to wait for the department to make a decision on what they want us to do.”
Mr Collett said he had his suspicions about how the croc came to be in a suburban creek.
“There’s no way he’s booked a flight from Darwin and come down and landed at Newcastle,” he said.
“So he’s likely an escaped pet, whether that was legally housed or illegally housed … but that’s not up to me to worry about.
“My biggest worry for him is just his welfare.”
Police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
