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Two teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, have been charged with breaking into Perth Zoo on Sunday evening to attack Dangalabba, a large saltwater crocodile weighing about 400kg. The pair cut locks, entered the enclosure, and struck the animal with a metal pole before damaging security cameras and leaving the scene; police arrested them at separate locations in Baldivis and Belmont on Monday. CCTV footage captured the boys inside the reptile's habitat where they caused minor injuries to Dangalabba, who is under veterinary care. The zoo expressed disappointment over the incident, emphasizing its impact on animal welfare and public safety.
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.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 10540 · logged 2026-09-15
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Two teenage boys will front Perth Children's Court on Tuesday accused of breaking into Perth Zoo and bashing a crocodile with a metal pole.
The alleged attack occurred on Sunday, according to Perth Zoo, which said the crocodile sustained minor injuries and was being closely monitored by veterinary staff.
uncertain
crocodile → see → staff
Perth Zoo's resident saltwater crocodile, Dangalabba, is about 4.5m long, weighs approximately 400kg, and is estimated to be around 40 years old.
asserted
crocodile → weigh → kg
The 'rescue crocodile' had lived at a crocodile farm in Broome for many years after being removed from Darwin Harbour by wildlife officers over fears he posed a risk to public safety.
asserted
he → live → safety
The reptile's enclosure was listed as 'off display' on the zoo's website on Tuesday.
asserted
enclosure → list → Tuesday
Perth Zoo told the Daily Mail staff had discovered that someone had allegedly entered a restricted back-of-house area of the crocodile habitat on Sunday evening.
uncertain
someone → tell → evening
'An immediate inspection confirmed that unauthorised individuals had gained access to the Estuarine Crocodile habitat,' a spokesman said.
asserted
spokesman → confirm → habitat
'This was a reckless and irresponsible act that placed both animal welfare and human safety at significant risk.
asserted
that → place → risk
Perth Zoo (pictured) is home to one resident saltwater crocodile named Dangalabba a 4.5-metre giant weighing about 400kg
Police allege the pair cut the locks to a crocodile enclosure before entering and striking the crocodile (pictured) with a metal pole
Two boys will front Perth Children's Court on Tuesday accused of breaking into Perth Zoo (pictured) and bashing a crocodile with a metal pole
'
asserted
boys → picture → pole
As a result of the incident, the crocodile sustained minor injuries.
asserted
crocodile → sustain → injuries
Our veterinary team and dedicated animal care staff are closely monitoring him and providing any treatment required to support his recovery.'
asserted
team → monitor → recovery
WA Police allege two boys, aged 16 and 17, gained entry to Perth Zoo by unknown means about 7.15pm on Sunday.
asserted
boys → allege → Sunday
The pair cut the locks to a crocodile enclosure before entering and striking a crocodile with a metal pole, said police.
asserted
police → cut → pole
'CCTV cameras inside the enclosure captured the pair before it is alleged the males damaged both cameras by removing them from the wall,' a police spokesman said.
asserted
spokesman → capture → wall
'The pair then left the enclosure and the zoo before the matter was reported to police the following morning.'
Police launched an investigation and attended separate addresses in Baldivis and Belmont on Monday, where both teenagers were taken into custody.
asserted
teenagers → leave → custody
They have since been charged with two counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, one count of trespass and one count of animal cruelty.
asserted
They → charge → cruelty
The Perth Zoo spokesman said said they were 'deeply disappointed' by the incident.
asserted
they → say → incident
'Any unlawful intrusion into animal habitats places the welfare of our animals, as well as the safety of individuals, at risk.'
asserted
intrusion → place → risk
Perth Zoo said a range of security measures was in place across the site, including physical controls, surveillance systems and after-hours monitoring.
asserted
range → say → hours
It is reviewing the incident.
asserted
It → review → incident
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