Disbelief as crocodile captured in Newcastle creek thousands of kilometres from natural habitat

"I get there, I look and here's this little crocodile swimming around in the water. The sighting occurred at Federal Park in Wallsend, close to a local pool and primary school. Kirsop said she was met with initial disbelief when she contacted the wildlife rescue group Wires, and the Australian Reptile Park."

"We didn't have a boat [on Saturday], so the SES [State Emergency Service] dropped us off a rescue raft, Collett said. We paddled that down but it was just too slow to get enough to jump without him spooking. Collett's team returned on Sunday with a motored tinnie, finding the croc in the evening near wetlands approximately 3km downstream from where it was first spotted."

"I just sent it off the nose of the boat sideways, straight in, grabbed him, wrangled him in the water, he said. The biggest concern was for the animal's welfare throughout the operation."

A freshwater crocodile was discovered swimming in Ironbark Creek in Newcastle, approximately 100km north of Sydney, after teenagers spotted it at Federal Park in Wallsend. Initial reports were met with skepticism from wildlife authorities and the public. Police were contacted and arrived at the scene on Saturday afternoon. A specialized team from the Australian Reptile Park, led by Billy Collett, attempted capture on Saturday night using a rescue raft but found the crocodile too fast. The team returned Sunday with a motorized boat and successfully captured the animal near wetlands approximately 3km downstream from the initial sighting. The capture prioritized the animal's welfare throughout the operation.

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