Imagine a legendary crocodile, a symbol of the wild, being torn from its ancestral home and relocated over a thousand miles away, all amidst fierce opposition from those who hold it sacred. This is the story of Old Faithful, a colossal saltwater crocodile, whose recent move to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo has ignited a firestorm of controversy.
This iconic reptile, measuring over 4 meters in length, was famously captured by the late Steve Irwin in the 1990s as part of his pioneering efforts to reduce human-crocodile conflicts. Irwin’s method involved ‘hazing’ the crocodile—instilling a fear of humans—before releasing it back into the Normanby River. For nearly two decades, this approach seemed to work, allowing Old Faithful to coexist peacefully with the local community. But here’s where it gets controversial: On September 8th, wildlife officers removed Old Faithful and another smaller crocodile from the river, citing reports of escalating behavior allegedly caused by humans feeding the animal.
Australia Zoo, located near the Glasshouse Mountains in southeast Queensland, proudly announced Old Faithful’s arrival via social media on Monday. The zoo’s crocodile research team, led by Toby Millyard, initially hoped the crocodile could return to its natural habitat. However, upon learning that relocation was impossible, they offered to provide a ‘forever home.’ Millyard emphasized their commitment to giving Old Faithful the best possible care for the rest of its life.
And this is the part most people miss: The traditional owners of the land, the Rinyirru (Lakefield) Aboriginal Corporation, were left devastated and outraged. Alwyn Lyall, the corporation’s chair, expressed deep sorrow and frustration over the decision to move Old Faithful so far from his ancestral territory. ‘This crocodile is an important and totemic animal,’ Lyall stated. ‘A zoo is the wrong place for him.’ He criticized the lack of consultation with traditional owners, calling the removal ‘like a thief in the night.’ Lyall suggested that a facility in Babinda, less than 400km away, would have been a more appropriate and accessible option.
Adding another layer to this debate, Jesse Crampton, owner of Croc Country Australia in Babinda, confirmed he had expressed interest in housing Old Faithful. Crampton’s facility is specifically designed to accommodate ‘iconic’ crocodiles—those over 4 meters long—deemed problematic by authorities. He highlighted the facility’s collaboration with Indigenous rangers and its role in addressing a ‘housing crisis’ for such crocodiles.
Conservationists and advocates have also weighed in, with the Environmental Defenders Office filing a request for a statement of reasons regarding Old Faithful’s removal. Amanda French, co-founder of Community Representation of Crocodiles (Croc), accused the Queensland environment department of a ‘cover-up,’ claiming they fast-tracked the crocodile’s relocation while delaying transparency requests. French lamented the fate of Old Faithful, now reduced to a ‘commercial opportunity’ for the zoo, after decades of freedom in the wild.
But here’s the question that lingers: Is captivity in a renowned zoo like Australia Zoo truly the best outcome for Old Faithful, or does it represent a cultural and ethical misstep? Should traditional owners have had more say in the decision? And what does this case reveal about our approach to wildlife conservation and Indigenous rights? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
