An Australian family who thought they had a goanna lurking in their chicken coop got a big shock after discovering the scaly lizard was actually a 3-foot crocodile looking for a snack.
Wildlife officers from Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) were called to the Cape Hillsborough home, north of Mackay, about 9am on Monday after the resident found the small estuarine crocodile in their yard.
“Residents initially thought the reptile was a goanna, but upon closer inspection realized it was a small crocodile,” DESI said in a statement.
Fortunately, the family’s pets and chickens were unharmed and everything was accounted for.
A Queensland resident found a small estuarine crocodile in their backyard.
DESI staff placed the crocodile in a large PVC tube for transport to Mackay, where it will remain at the department’s center until wildlife officers can find a new home for the animal in a licensed farm or zoo.
Senior wildlife officer Jane Burns said crocodiles can be very mobile, especially during summer and after wet weather.
“While it’s not unusual to see a crocodile around Mackay, it’s unusual to find one in someone’s backyard,” he said.
“This is a good reminder to everyone in crocodile country that crocodiles can appear in unexpected places.”
Alligators can be very mobile, especially during summer and after wet weather. Facebook / Environment Queensland
The shocking discovery comes days after wildlife officers began an investigation into reports of a large crocodile jumping from the water into a fisherman’s fish in Jane Creek near St Helen’s Beach, north of Mackay.
Members of the public reported the incident at 10am on New Year’s Eve.
Ms Burns said wildlife officers contacted the man the following day, where he reported the crocodile swam under the boat, then turned and launched itself into the boat with its jaws wide open.
DESI staff placed the crocodile in a large PVC tube for transport to Mackay. Facebook / Environment Queensland
“The man then jumped the alligator to get to the cub’s bow and grab the anchor, and the alligator spun, overbalanced and fell into the water, bending the cub’s rail,” he said.
“The fisherman went to the boat ramp at Black Rock Creek.
“He told us he had never seen a crocodile of that size behaving like that in this region before.”
The fisherman reported that the animal had not been in the boat for a long time.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
