Baby Crocodile Confiscated After Being Kept as Pet in Cairns Apartment
A young saltwater crocodile found living in a fish tank inside a Far North Queensland apartment was intended to be kept as a pet, according to state wildlife officials.
Daniel Guymer, senior conservation officer with Queensland Parks and Wildlife, said a man in his mid-20s allegedly discovered the hatchling in a river near Mossman—roughly 75 kilometres north of Cairns—late last year and brought it home.
“He thought the croc was injured and struggling to swim,” Mr Guymer said.
“His intentions may have been good.”
The crocodile, estimated to be under a year old, was being kept in a small indoor tank.
Authorities believe the man planned to raise the crocodile as a pet in the inner-city apartment he shared with others.
“Despite its small size at the time, crocodiles grow quickly,” Mr Guymer warned.
“The tank would’ve become too small very soon.”
Following a tip-off, police and wildlife rangers seized the crocodile on May 16. The animal was found in a 0.5 by 1 metre enclosure.
The man was fined $2,419 and given 28 days to pay. Mr Guymer said the individual expressed regret once he understood the legal restrictions.
The crocodile, which had been fed supermarket meat and occasionally lizards, has since been relocated to a zoo in Far North Queensland. Its time in captivity posed too many risks for it to be safely returned to the wild.
Keeping Crocodiles as Pets: A Rare Exception
In most parts of Australia, owning a pet crocodile is illegal, except in Victoria and the Northern Territory where ownership is allowed under strict regulations.
Queensland has a firm ban on keeping crocodiles as pets, with very limited exceptions—one being a 62-year-old crocodile named Charlene, who has spent her entire life with the Casey family.
John Casey, a 63-year-old sugarcane farmer from Proserpine, inherited Charlene through a grandfathered permit that remains valid for her lifetime.
A childhood photo shows a young John holding Charlene, who he considers more like a sibling than a pet. Charlene, who is now three metres long, once bit off his late father’s hand during feeding.
“Authorities know Charlene is well looked after, and I’m doing right by her,” Mr Casey said.
“She recognises me, and I know her temperament.”
Charlene was mentioned in both his father’s will and his own, ensuring she stays in the family. Despite his bond with her, Mr Casey supports the law banning pet crocodiles to protect animal welfare and prevent poaching.
“As crocodiles grow, they become more dangerous,” he said.
Charlene lives in a spacious enclosure with plenty of light and shade. Mr Casey avoids entering her enclosure and keeps his distance during nesting season.
“She still has wild instincts,” he noted.
