Two teenage boys are suspected of breaking into a zoo and then attacking a 400 kg crocodile with a metal rod. The 16 and 17-year-olds are accused of entering the Perth Zoo (Australia) after closing time on Sunday evening and breaking into the crocodile enclosures, according to Express.
According to police, the teenagers entered the South Perth Zoo at about 7:15 pm and cut the locks leading to the enclosure housing the 4.2-meter-long crocodile Dangalabba.
The court heard that the teenagers first broke the lock of the building housing the freshwater crocodile, although it remains unclear what happened inside as there were no cameras. Then they allegedly entered the crocodile area and began smashing the enclosure wall, teasing Dangalabba, who charged at them. The court heard that the boys then noticed a camera on the wall, covered their faces, and removed it.
Prosecutors say one of the teenagers entered the enclosure and struck the crocodile with a metal rod, and later, upon noticing another camera, knocked it to the ground. The other youth is accused of holding a flashlight during the incident. Later, surveillance cameras captured both teenagers riding staff bicycles around the zoo.
The incident was reported to the police on Monday morning, and the youths were later detained by officers.
Each teenager faces charges for two counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, one count of unlawful entry onto private property, and one count of animal cruelty. On Tuesday, they appeared before the Perth Children’s Court; the judge described the charges as “serious” and “exceptional.”
One of the youths was granted bail and will have to appear in court again on October 6, while the other was remanded in custody until a bail hearing on September 18.
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When approached by journalists outside the court building, one of the youths said, “We never wanted to hurt him.”
Perth Zoo reported that Dangalabba sustained “minor injuries” during the incident and is being closely monitored by a team of veterinary specialists.
A zoo spokesperson said, “Animal welfare is the foundation of all our activities at Perth Zoo, so we are very disappointed by this incident. Any unlawful intrusion into the animals’ living environment poses a threat to both our animals’ welfare and human safety. Perth Zoo employs various security measures on the premises, including physical security, surveillance systems, and after-hours monitoring, and is currently reviewing the incident.”
In a letter, the zoo reported that Dangalabba is recovering well. It stated, “Data collected during the investigation shows that Dangalabba suffered minor superficial injuries due to the unlawful intrusion into his enclosure. Most importantly, Dangalabba is feeling well. While we are glad the injuries are not severe, this was an irresponsible and completely unacceptable act that harmed the animal and could very easily have ended in tragic consequences.”
Western Australia’s Police Minister Reece Whitby said he could not believe anyone would dare “to take on a crocodile.” He added, “They were very lucky not to be seriously injured or killed – this could have ended in a real tragedy.” Dangalabba has lived at Perth Zoo since 2019. Before that, he lived on a crocodile farm in Broome, where he was taken after wildlife officers removed him from Darwin Harbour.
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