A visit to a Bunnings store took an unexpected turn for one customer when they spotted a crocodile swimming in a nearby waterway, far from its usual habitat.
A man and his young daughter were surprised to see a baby crocodile paddling in a pond located behind a Bunnings outlet in Wallsend, a suburb of Newcastle on the NSW Central Coast, around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
New South Wales Police confirmed that officers were dispatched to the scene following reports of the crocodile sighting.
Officers, likely startled by the sight of a crocodile so far from its natural environment—over 1,000 kilometers away in Queensland and the Northern Territory—set up a perimeter to ensure the safety of bystanders and prevent any potential incidents.
“It is unknown at this time how long the crocodile had been in the water,” stated NSW Police in their official report.
Authorities have called in a specialist in dangerous animal handling to safely capture and relocate the reptile.
It’s believed the crocodile was an illegal pet.
The Queensland government’s defined ‘Croc Country’ stretches from its north coast down to Gladstone, in Central Queensland.
A crocodile (above) was spotted in Wallsend, Newcastle
It’s believed the animal (above) may have been an illegal pet
The reptile was found behind a Bunnings in Newcastle (pictured)
‘Crocodiles can sometimes also be found outside of this area but sightings are rare,’ it states.
The unusual sighting in Newcastle is about 300km from where an alleged exotic animal farm was uncovered by NSW Police on February 4.
Investigators raided a property in Collombatti and allegedly discovered a ‘makeshift zoo full of dozens of native and exotic reptiles’, a hydroponic cannabis farm and a firearm.
‘Police will allege inside the home was a 1.3 metre saltwater crocodile, 38 snakes including a Cobra, 19 lizards, three hedgehogs, 28 dogs and nine cats,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
Officers, alongside workers from the local council and RSPCA, assisted licensed reptile handlers and biodiversity regulators in moving the animals to safer locations.
Police also allegedly seized 52 hydroponic plants, 11 kilograms of cannabis leaf with a street value of $85,000 and a rifle concealed inside the kitchen.
Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy alleged early investigations indicated the man was involved in the black market sale of exotic animals.
‘It is certainly concerning that our native animals are being exported to other countries and that other exotic animals are exported into this country,’ he said at the time.
A man was earlier charged for allegedly farming exotic pets in February
The alleged farm (above) was found some 300km from Saturday’s sighting
Officers allegedly recovered 1.3 metre saltwater crocodile (above), 38 snakes including a Cobra, 19 lizards, three hedgehogs, 28 dogs and nine cats from the home
‘Exporting native animals risks our ecosystem and our native animals.
‘Any sort of importation does go towards facilitating organised crime.’
The search of the man’s property was not due to the alleged exotic animal farm, though officers had been tipped to the presence of the animals.
‘Exactly what type and how many were unknown. There were 15 exotic animals in there from six different species,’ Supt Abdy said.
‘It is actually not uncommon for people involved in organised crime to possess exotic animals.
‘It was certainly a confronting scene. It’s not every day that we do an entry into a premises and there’s a 1.5 metre saltwater crocodile in a bedroom.
‘You’ve got a hydroponic cannabis setup there with 28 dogs, essentially guarding that. Then a premise full of venomous snakes and a saltwater crocodile.’
There is no suggestion the alleged farm is linked to Saturday’s crocodile sighting.
