Reptile Wrangler's Midnight Dive Captures Crocodile in Newcastle Creek
In a remarkable display of bravery and skill, a reptile wrangler has executed an extraordinary late-night capture, plunging into a dark creek in New South Wales to seize a juvenile crocodile using only his bare hands. Billy Collett, the manager of the Australian Reptile Park, embarked on a 48-hour mission to locate the freshwater crocodile after local residents reported sightings in a waterway in Newcastle, located north of Sydney.
Dramatic Search and Capture Unfold
The dramatic operation commenced when local police contacted Collett on Saturday afternoon regarding a crocodile spotted in a creek behind a Bunnings store in Wallsend. "I was a bit suspicious, you know, like, because we get a lot of phone calls like that. And then he sent me a photo, and I thought, 'oh, far out, that's an actual croc'," Collett recounted. Initially anticipated as a straightforward retrieval in a narrow section of the creek, the situation rapidly escalated into an extensive search across a sprawling creek system and wetlands.
On the first night, Collett successfully spotted the crocodile under a bridge behind the store, but efforts to approach it using a State Emergency Service rescue raft proved unsuccessful. The team pursued the reptile until 1am before suspending the operation. The following day yielded no sightings, leading to mounting frustration. However, after nightfall, approximately three kilometres downstream from the initial location, a breakthrough occurred.
Instinctive Action Leads to Success
"There was a huge tree across the creek, couldn't get past. And so I thought, no, he's gone. Turn the boat around, and he's right there," Collett recalled. Acting on pure instinct, he sprang into action. "I just sent it, launched off the front into the darkness, grabbed him .... and he was swinging around under the water, almost hit my arm, but I managed to grab him. I came up, and I felt like I won the lotto," he said.
The crocodile was significantly smaller than initially estimated, measuring under a metre in length, yet it remained agile in the water. Collett humorously suggested the croc might have been heading out for a "Bunnings snag". He believes the animal was likely a released or escaped illegal pet, given its discovery more than 1,000 kilometres from its natural habitat in Queensland. "I don't think he's been in captivity for that long. He literally looks like he's come straight out of the bush. He's got that really wild-type look to him," he explained.
Aftermath and Conservation Insights
Despite local rumours circulating about multiple crocodiles in the area, Collett expressed confidence that only one was present. The crocodile is now housed in a quarantine enclosure at the Australian Reptile Park and has undergone a veterinary examination, which confirmed it is in good health. "We literally saved his life, you know, his welfare. If we didn't get him, he would have died over winter," Collett emphasised.
The Queensland government designates "Croc Country" as the region with the largest population of crocodiles outside the Northern Territory, spanning coastal areas in the state's north and concluding in Gladstone. "Crocodiles can sometimes also be found outside of this area, but sightings are rare," the state government noted. Recent rainfall in Newcastle, situated on NSW's Hunter Coast, may have contributed to the reptile's appearance in this unusual location. "Crocodiles are highly mobile at any time, especially after heavy rain and floods. They can travel hundreds of kilometres in water and can be found in all waterways and oceans within crocodile habitat," the Queensland government warned.
Authorities are now determining the crocodile's long-term placement, ensuring its safety and well-being in a controlled environment.
