Freshwater Crocodiles Cause Stir in NSW Hunter Creek
A surprising discovery has sent ripples of excitement and concern through the Wallsend community in the New South Wales Hunter region, with several freshwater crocodiles spotted in Ironbark Creek. The waterway, situated west of Newcastle and adjacent to a popular local walking track, has become the unlikely habitat for these reptiles, prompting a swift response from wildlife authorities.
The initial sightings occurred on a Saturday afternoon, with local residents quickly taking to social media to share videos and photographs of the crocodiles, alerting the wider public to their presence. The news prompted rangers from the Australian Reptile Park, located on the Central Coast, to undertake a search operation over the weekend.
A Shocking Encounter
Lionel Saunders, a resident of Fletcher, was among the first to lay eyes on the creatures. He recounted his disbelief to friends, initially mistaking the reptiles for large lizards.
“My mate was down here and he said, ‘Come look,’ and I thought it was a lizard, not a crocodile,” Mr. Saunders explained. “We stood there and watched it for a bit and we thought it was fake.”
To confirm their suspicions, Mr. Saunders and his friend tossed a stick into the water near one of the crocodiles, observing its distinct movement. The experience was so extraordinary that it took him two hours to convince his mother, Stephanie Kirsop, of the sighting.
Ms. Kirsop, who grew up in Wallsend and had only ever encountered eels in the creek, initially dismissed her son’s claims. “I thought it was a trick.. I thought, ‘That’s definitely a log’,” she admitted. “I rang wires and the reptile park and they didn’t believe me and told me to send photos and videos.” However, her scepticism dissolved when she witnessed a crocodile swimming in the creek herself. “I still didn’t believe it until I saw it swimming around in the water,” she added.
Concerns Over Illegal Release and Public Safety
The presence of freshwater crocodiles in this location has raised significant concerns among wildlife experts, particularly regarding the circumstances of their arrival. Teresa Purnell, senior reptile coordinator at Hunter Wildlife Rescue, stressed the importance of the public maintaining a safe distance.
“The crocodiles can submerge underwater for quite a long time,” Ms. Purnell stated. “There were people throwing things at them so they disappeared. I would strongly urge people not to go and sticky beak in the area because it would make the chance of finding them more difficult.”
Ms. Purnell believes the crocodiles were likely brought to the area illegally from Queensland.
- Illegal Trafficking Suspected:
The most probable explanation for the crocodiles’ presence in Ironbark Creek is that they were transported from Queensland without proper authorisation.
Once the reptiles grew larger, their owners may have released them into local waterways, a practice that wildlife authorities strongly condemn.
NSW Police have confirmed they are investigating the matter, though the exact duration of the crocodiles’ presence in the creek remains unknown. The Australian Reptile Park has been unable to provide further comment at this time. The situation underscores the dangers of the illegal pet trade and the potential ecological impacts of releasing non-native species into the environment. Authorities are urging residents to report any further sightings and to avoid approaching the animals for their own safety and to aid in their eventual relocation.
