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MoreQuiet 9d · day 9

Two teens charged after breaking into Perth Zoo and striking crocodile with pole

Boys aged 16 and 17 allegedly attacked a 400kg saltwater crocodile, destroyed CCTV cameras, and stole bikes during an after-hours zoo intrusion.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 4d ago4 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Two boys aged 16 and 17 broke into Perth Zoo on Sunday night, cut crocodile enclosure locks, struck the 400kg animal with a metal pole, and destroyed CCTV cameras before being arrested on Monday.
  • The saltwater crocodile named Dangalabba sustained only minor injuries; both teenagers face charges including animal cruelty, criminal damage, and trespass.
  • One boy was granted bail while the other was remanded in custody; police emphasized the incident could easily have resulted in serious injury or death.

“Animal welfare underpins everything we do at Perth Zoo, and we are deeply disappointed by this incident.”

Perth Zoo spokesperson · ABC Australia ↗

Two teenage boys (aged 16 and 17) Accused of zoo break-in and animal crueltyDangalabba Saltwater crocodile at Perth ZooPerth Zoo Victim institutionReece Whitby WA Police Minister

Two teens charged after breaking into Perth Zoo and striking crocodile with pole
Sydney Morning Herald

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles

Peak 3 pieces in two hours at Sep 15, 1 AM; 4 pieces over 9 days (4 articles) Sep 15, 1 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 2, Google News 1Sep 15, 3 AM — quietSep 15, 5 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 15, 7 AM — quietSep 15, 9 AM — quietSep 15, 11 AM — quietSep 15, 1 PM — quietSep 15, 3 PM — quietSep 15, 5 PM — quietSep 15, 7 PM — quietSep 15, 9 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — quietSep 16, 1 AM — quietSep 16, 3 AM — quietSep 16, 5 AM — quietSep 16, 7 AM — quietSep 16, 9 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — quietSep 16, 1 PM — quietSep 16, 3 PM — quietSep 16, 5 PM — quietSep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 9 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 1 AM — quietSep 17, 3 AM — quietSep 17, 5 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 9 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — quietSep 17, 3 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 9 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — quietSep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 9 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 9 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 9 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quiet 1
Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 5:46 AM ET
  1. background

    One boy tells reporters 'we never meant to hurt it' — When approached outside court, one of the boys claimed they did not intend to harm the crocodile, offering a brief defense of their actions.

  2. background

    Crocodile injured; Perth Zoo condemns 'reckless and completely unacceptable' intrusion — Perth Zoo confirmed Dangalabba sustained minor superficial injuries. The zoo statement called the incident reckless and unacceptable, emphasizing it showed complete disregard for animal welfare and posed tragic safety risks.

  3. background

    Teens charged with animal cruelty, criminal damage, and trespass — Both boys were charged with two counts of criminal damage, one count of trespass, and one count of animal cruelty. One boy was granted bail into Department of Communities care; the other was remanded in custody pending a bail application hearing.

  4. background

    Police discover break-in and arrest both boys — WA Police were notified about the break-in the following morning and arrested the pair a short time later at separate addresses in Baldivis and Belmont.

  5. background

    Boys destroy CCTV cameras and steal staff bicycles — When the teenagers noticed a CCTV camera inside the crocodile enclosure, they covered their faces and ripped the camera off the wall, destroying it. An hour later they were captured on other cameras taking two staff push-bikes and riding around the zoo.

  6. 1

    Two boys break into Perth Zoo crocodile enclosure and attack animal with metal pole

    The 16 and 17-year-old boys cut locks to the saltwater crocodile enclosure around 7:15pm on Sunday. One shone a phone torch at the crocodile, causing it to lunge, and they continued agitating the 400kg, 4.5-metre-long crocodile named Dangalabba before striking it on the head with a metal pole.

    “They are very lucky that they haven't been severely injured or have lost their life, this could have been an absolute tragedy.”
    — WA Police Minister Reece Whitby
    1. 2 outlets Boys arrested for ‘breaking into Perth Zoo, bashing crocodile with pole’

      first by Sydney Morning Herald, 9d ago · also ABC Australia

      2 more headlines