Crocodile captured in Newcastle creek far south of natural range

A freshwater crocodile was captured in a city creek in Newcastle — about 100km north of Sydney — after teenagers spotted the animal in Ironbark Creek on Saturday. The sighting at Federal Park in Wallsend, close to a local pool and a primary school, drew alarm from visitors.

A mother who went to the park said she initially thought the report was a trick but soon saw the crocodile swimming in the water. She contacted wildlife rescuers, the Australian Reptile Park and New South Wales police; an officer attended at about 4.30pm on Saturday and the response stepped up once the animal was observed.

Handlers from the Australian Reptile Park, led by Billy Collett, captured the crocodile on Sunday night after multiple attempts the previous evening and morning. They found it near wetlands about 3km downstream from the original sighting, having returned with a motored tinnie after a rescue raft proved too slow, and secured the animal in the water.

Australia, Newcastle

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