Baby saltwater crocodile seized from inner-city unit in Cairns
May 20, 2025 3:28 PM Subscribe
Baby saltwater crocodile seized from fish tank after alleged poaching. A baby saltwater crocodile seized from a fish tank in a suburban share house unit in far north Queensland was intended to be kept as a pet, rangers say. Saltwater Crocodiles can grow to be up to 5.5 m [18 ft 1 in] long and weigh up to 1010 kg [2227 lb], and they can and do eat humans, so they don't make ideal house pets.
Mr Guymer said he understood that the Cairns man had intended to keep the crocodile in a fish tank as a pet in the inner-city unit he shared with others.
"Even though it was small at the time, crocodiles do get bigger," he said.
"That crocodile would have quickly outgrown its enclosure."
Police were tipped off about the crocodile — which was in an enclosure half a metre wide by 1 metre long — and rangers confiscated the animal.
Mr Guymer said he understood that the Cairns man had intended to keep the crocodile in a fish tank as a pet in the inner-city unit he shared with others.
"Even though it was small at the time, crocodiles do get bigger," he said.
"That crocodile would have quickly outgrown its enclosure."
Police were tipped off about the crocodile — which was in an enclosure half a metre wide by 1 metre long — and rangers confiscated the animal.
(Looks at Golden doodle)
That’s not a pet.
(Pulls a saltwater croc out of a backpack with a plastic bubble window)
Now that’s a pet!
posted by orange ball at 4:15 PM on May 20 [1 favorite]
That’s not a pet.
(Pulls a saltwater croc out of a backpack with a plastic bubble window)
Now that’s a pet!
posted by orange ball at 4:15 PM on May 20 [1 favorite]
This was not a well thought out plan. At least now both the croc and the human will get to live out their lives in full.
posted by tommasz at 4:27 PM on May 20 [1 favorite]
posted by tommasz at 4:27 PM on May 20 [1 favorite]
Far North Queensland is truly the Florida of Australia. No disrespect intended to FNQ, obviously.
posted by tim_in_oz at 4:50 PM on May 20
posted by tim_in_oz at 4:50 PM on May 20
I can almost kinda sorta understand wanting to keep a wee croc for a brief time - until it is large enough to, say, injure you and/or a pet/visitor/etc - but damn. Truly a recipe for disaster, glad it has been sorted out.
And: "The man has 28 days to pay a $2,419 fine" - oof. Big fine, hope it's a good deterrent.
posted by davidmsc at 5:17 PM on May 20
And: "The man has 28 days to pay a $2,419 fine" - oof. Big fine, hope it's a good deterrent.
posted by davidmsc at 5:17 PM on May 20
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posted by supermedusa at 4:04 PM on May 20 [1 favorite]