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Australian Boy Fed Zoo Animals to Crocodile

Rare turtle, lizards among 13 reptiles killed by 7-year-old

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 3, 2008 11:07 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A 7-year-old boy snuck into an Australian zoo on Wednesday and killed 13 animals, the BBC reports. The child jumped a fence and evaded security cameras to gain access to the Alice Springs Reptile Center, where he bashed three lizards with rocks and fed 10 other animals, some of them rare specimens, to the zoo's crocodile.

"The fact a 7-year-old can wreak so much havoc in such a short time, it's unbelievable," said the zoo's director of the half-hour rampage. The boy cannot be charged with a crime under Australian law, but the zoo might attempt to hold his parents liable for his actions. The boy has refused to answer police questions.

Two bearded dragons were among the victims of the boy's rampage.
Two bearded dragons were among the victims of the boy's rampage.   (Flickr)
An eastern bearded dragon and an Australian blue tongue lizard stretch out in the mouth of Bruce, a 12-foot crocodile replica, at the Australian Outback Experience exhibit in Las Cruces, N.M.
An eastern bearded dragon and an Australian blue tongue lizard stretch out in the mouth of Bruce, a 12-foot crocodile replica, at the Australian Outback Experience exhibit in Las Cruces, N.M.   (AP Photo)
In this CCTV image provided by the Alice Springs Reptile Centre, a 7-year-old boy throws a turtle over a wall, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008.
In this CCTV image provided by the Alice Springs Reptile Centre, a 7-year-old boy throws a turtle over a wall, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008.   (AP Photo)
A 7-year-old boy, far left, throws something to a crocodile at a popular Outback zoo in Alice Springs, Australia. The boy broke into the zoo and fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile.
A 7-year-old boy, far left, throws something to a crocodile at a popular Outback zoo in Alice Springs, Australia. The boy broke into the zoo and fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile.   (AP Photo)
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Zoo director 'devestated'
Northern Territory (Australia) News

Boy's brother attacked croc 5 years ago
Times (UK)

 
Australia • animal cruelty • zoo • crocodile • reptiles • juvenile crime

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