ABC News (AU)
· collected 2026-09-15 · by Samantha Goerling, Kenith Png, and Mya Kordic
Two teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, appeared in Perth Children's Court after allegedly breaking into Perth Zoo around 7:15pm on Sunday to attack a 400-kilogram saltwater crocodile with a metal pole. The incident resulted in charges including criminal damage, trespass, and animal cruelty for each boy. One boy was granted bail while the other remains in custody until further hearing; both admitted "never meant to hurt it" when questioned by reporters outside court. Perth Zoo spokespersons expressed deep disappointment over the unlawful intrusion that endangered animal welfare and human safety, noting ongoing review of zoo security measures following the event.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Sunday, two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, allegedly broke into Perth Zoo in South Perth after cutting locks to enter an enclosure. They attacked Dangalagabba, a 400 kilogram saltwater crocodile measuring 4.2 meters long, with a metal pole. The boys were later apprehended at separate addresses in Baldivis and Belmont by police on Monday morning. Each teen faces charges including two counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, one count of trespassing, and one count of animal cruelty. Police footage showed the pair removing cameras from the scene. Dangalabba, described as a "rescue crocodile," was brought to Perth Zoo after being deemed dangerous in Darwin Harbour; it had lived previously at a farm in Broome. The zoo noted that such incidents pose severe risks to both animal welfare and public safety.
Written for “Crocodile Attack At Perth Zoo Trial” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Two teenage boys who allegedly broke into an enclosure at Perth Zoo and attacked a 400 kilogram crocodile with a metal pole have appeared in a Perth court.
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who → break → court
Police say the boys, aged 16 and 17, entered the zoo in South Perth around 7:15pm on Sunday and cut the locks to the enclosure — home to the 4.2-metre-long saltwater crocodile named Dangalagabba.
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boys → say → crocodile
One of the boys allegedly struck the crocodile with a metal pole, and both were captured on CCTV removing the cameras.
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both → strike → cameras
The incident was reported to police on Monday morning.
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incident → report → morning
It is not known how the pair gained access to the zoo, which was closed at the time.
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which → know → time
Later on Monday, police found the teenagers at separate addresses in suburban Baldivis and Belmont and took them into custody.
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police → find → custody
Each has been charged with two counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, one count of trespass and one count of animal cruelty.
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Each → charge → cruelty
Crocodile 'lunged'
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Crocodile → lunge → ?
The pair appeared in the Perth Children's Court today.
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pair → appear → Court
The prosecutor told the court the boys broke the lock to the building which houses the freshwater crocodile, but it was unclear what happened inside as there were no cameras.
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what → tell → crocodile
The court heard they then entered the saltwater crocodile area and banged on the wall of the enclosure, agitating the crocodile which lunged toward them.
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which → hear → them
The boys then noticed a camera on the wall, covered their faces and removed the camera.
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boys → notice → camera
The prosecutor said one of the boys then entered the enclosure and hit the crocodile with a metal pole, before noticing another camera and knocking it to the ground.
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one → say → ground
The court heard the other boy held a torch while this happened.
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this → hear → torch
Both of the boys were later seen on CCTV riding staff pushbikes around the zoo.
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Both → see → zoo
The magistrate described the charges as "serious" and "unique".
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magistrate → describe → charges
One of the boys was granted bail and is due to appear in court again on October 6.
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One → grant → October
The other boy was remanded in custody until a bail application hearing on September 18.
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boy → remand → September
When approached by reporters outside court, one of the boys said "we never meant to hurt it".
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we → approach → it
A Perth Zoo spokesperson said staff discovered the back-of-house areas of the crocodile exhibits had been unlawfully entered on Monday morning.
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areas → say → morning
They said the reptile in the saltwater crocodile habitat sustained "minor injuries" as a result of the incident, and a veterinary team was closely monitoring the animal and providing any treatment required.
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team → say → treatment
"Animal welfare underpins everything we do at Perth Zoo, and we are deeply disappointed by this incident," the spokesperson said.
"Any unlawful intrusion into animal habitats places the welfare of our animals, as well as the safety of individuals, at risk.
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intrusion → underpin → risk
Perth Zoo has a range of security measures in place across the site including physical security controls, surveillance systems and after-hours monitoring and is reviewing the incident."
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Zoo → have → incident
WA Police Minister Reece Whitby said he could not believe anyone would "take on a croc".
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anyone → say → croc
"They are very lucky that they haven't been severely injured or have lost their life, this could have been an absolute tragedy," he said.
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he → injure → life
In an email to members, Perth Zoo said the injured saltwater crocodile was recovering well.
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crocodile → say → members
"Evidence gathered during the investigation indicates that Dangalabba sustained minor superficial injuries as a result of the unlawful intrusion into his habitat.
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Dangalabba → gather → habitat
Importantly, Dangalabba is okay," the email read.
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email → read → ?
"While we are relieved that his injuries are not serious, this was a reckless and completely unacceptable act that caused harm to an animal and could very easily have resulted in tragic consequences."
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that → relieve → consequences
Perth Zoo welcomed Dangalgabba to his enclosure in 2019.
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Zoo → welcome → 2019
The reptile had lived in a crocodile farm in Broome, after being removed from Darwin Harbour by wildlife officers.
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reptile → live → officers
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