Crocodile Found in NSW Bunnings Pond

A surprising discovery was made when a customer and his daughter found a baby crocodile swimming in a pond behind a Bunnings store in Wallsend, Newcastle, on a Saturday afternoon. This sighting is particularly unusual as the reptile was located over 1,000 kilometers from its natural habitat in Queensland and the Northern Territory. NSW Police responded to the report, establishing a perimeter to ensure public safety while awaiting a specialist to safely retrieve the animal.

Authorities suspect the crocodile may have been an illegal pet, a concern highlighted by a recent raid on an alleged exotic animal farm near Collombatti. This earlier operation, occurring approximately 300 km from the Bunnings sighting, uncovered dozens of reptiles, including a 1.3-meter saltwater crocodile, and evidence of a hydroponic cannabis farm and illegal firearm possession. Police are investigating potential black market sales of exotic animals in relation to that incident.