Home › News › Nation & World
Boy breaks into zoo, feeds animals to crocodile
More Nation & World SYDNEY, Australia -- A 7-year-old boy broke into a popular Outback zoo, fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile and bashed several lizards to death with a rock, the zoo's director said today.
The 30-minute rampage, caught on the zoo's security camera, happened early Wednesday after the boy jumped a security fence at the Alice Springs Reptile Center in central Australia, said zoo director Rex Neindorf.
The child then went on a killing spree, bashing three lizards to death with a rock, including the zoo's beloved, 20-year-old goanna, which he then fed to "Terry," an 11-foot, 440-pound saltwater crocodile, said Neindorf.
The boy also fed several live animals to Terry by throwing them over the two fences surrounding the crocodile's enclosure, at one point climbing over the outer fence to get closer to the giant reptile.
In the footage, the boy's face remains largely blank, Neindorf said, adding: "It was like he was playing a game."
By the time he was done, 13 animals worth around $5,500 had been killed, including a turtle, bearded dragons and thorny devil lizards, Neindorf said. Although none were considered rare, some are difficult to replace, he said.
"We're horrified that anyone can do this and saddened by the age of the child," Neindorf said.
Alice Springs police said they are unable to press charges against the boy because of his age. Children under age 10 can't be charged with criminal offenses in the Northern Territory. His name was not released because of his age.
Neindorf said he plans to sue the boy's parents.
The boy's small size is probably the reason he didn't trip the zoo's security system, which relies on sensors to detect intruders, Neindorf said.
"I just want people to learn that they can't let their children go and run amok," Neindorf said. "If we can't put the blame onto the child, then someone has to accept the responsibility."
Posted by mbs0606 on October 3, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would sue the parents too. That is just horrible.
Posted by JohnB44 on October 3, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sue the parents and feed the kid to Terry.
Posted by campbellve on October 3, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hatestheramps-
your right it is A BUNCH of lizards that a seven year old KILLED!!! come on get with it, this kid obviously has some issues that need to be dealt with and so do YOU!!!
Posted by texasblackhawk84 on October 3, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hahaha, i'm with JohnB44. (In theory!)
Posted by abileneres on October 3, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would hold the parents responsible for what their 'little angel' did!
Of course, they will probably find a way to turn the tables :O !
Posted by mbs0606 on October 3, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hatestheramp- Just as we have pets, these animals are pets to the zookeepers. I saw we make the boy eat as many lizards as he fed the croc.
It just makes me wonder that if he could do something this cruel as a 7 year old, I'd hate to see him in 10 years. Possibly feeding people to a croc?
Posted by lal3126 on October 3, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet he has a job lined up to be manager at SONIC!
Posted by abileneres on October 3, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
good 1 lal!
Posted by topo97 on October 3, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the kid should serve one year and one day minimum, his parents should be fired and his mother sterilizes just so she can't produce any more little monsters. This administration is at fault because they did not know about this terroristic menace before it happened and Obama and his jihadist followers trained this thug in Iran...
Posted by blahblah on October 3, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hatestheramp---You are kidding...right?
Posted by TrixieLaRue970 on October 3, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't this make any of you think about this boy and his home life? Breaks into a zoo and stays there for how long with no supervision? Commits these atrocities, and they are atrocities, no matter what type of animal? The child needs serious help, and who knows whether it would be enough to turn him around before he does start killing people. And where did he learn to do any of this in the first place? He is only 7...
Posted by weeman on October 3, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He should be jailed for 365 and ONE days ..ha (those who comment on here often, will get that)
Posted by HoursAway on October 3, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL lal!
Posted by blahblah on October 3, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny again, weeman.
trixie---that is what is truely disturbing about this. This boy shows signs of all kinds of abuse (in my opinion) by doing something like this.
I truely hope he gets the help he needs.
Posted by texasblackhawk84 on October 3, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After careful consideration of my previous posting (#5), I've pulled an obama and flipflopped, send the kid to therapy and feed the PARENTS to Terry the gator! Haha.
Posted by rains911 on October 4, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
thats is hilarious...i fell out of my chair....."bashed lizards heads in with a rock"
i sent this to everyone i know.......lmao
Posted by krprilliman on October 4, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
toto97: I find it highly amusing how you imply that the mother alone produced the "monster" and should thus be sterlizied...last time I checked, it takes a sperm as well as an egg to generate offpring. ;-)
Posted by topo97 on October 4, 2008 at 11:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, do the same to dad, aunties, uncles and everybody else involved with this family so we kill off the gene pool.
Posted by cyndigarcia on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I cannot believe this.. WHERE WERE THE PARENTS when all this happened??? What is the world comming to!!!
Posted by Mars on October 7, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WTF!!! 7 years old kid people... wtf! how you going to let a 7 old kid out of your sight long enough for him to make it to the zoo! and go break into cages! and feed them to a giant croc. wow just wow!
Posted by Wraith on October 7, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, there is a serial killer in the making...."He was such a quiet child....except for that zoo thing". In 10 years when this little kid kills people, we will all wonder " Wasnt there any warning signs?"
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.