Me and my croc: No more new pet croc permits under NT’s new crocodile management plan

Policy changes that flew under the radar will stop animal-loving Territorians from welcoming one of the country’s most iconic – and scaly – animals into their homes as pets. Find out what the changes mean.

Policy changes that flew under the radar will stop animal-loving Territorians from welcoming one of the country’s most iconic – and scaly – animals into their homes as pets.

Under the NT government’s new crocodile management plan, Territory residents will no longer be able to apply for permits to keep crocodiles as pets.

Existing permits might be allowed to continue under the 10-year plan “depending on the animal size and the adequacy of the enclosure”.

Croc keeper Trevor Sullivan said he believed the “croc world” had not been properly consulted on the changes, which he said could have a devastating impact on the pets.

Trevor Sullivan. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Sullivan said he and other croc keepers across the Territory “knew about the plan to cull but no one heard (anything) regarding the pet crocodile side of it”.

He said the policy change might not affect current owners at a surface level, but it would down the line, because the reptiles could not be transferred to another person.

Mr Sullivan said crocs could live for a long time, and it was not unreasonable for loving owners to want their pets to find new homes when they could no longer care for them.

Trevor Sullivan feeds his 106-year-old rescue croc Shah. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Sullivan listed his Eva Valley property for sale in September 2023 and said the changes to permit acquisition would be a deterrent for potential buyers.

The 60-year-old said he was offering up his home and crocs in the hopes someone younger would be able to give the animals “security for the future”.

He said one couple had expressed interest, but he was concerned changes to the pet permits posed a problem.

“Right now, we’re just holding our breath to see where this goes because if it comes to the crunch of shooting the crocodiles, I won’t do it, I can’t do it,” he said.

“That means I’ll have to either stay here until I die or wait until something else happens.”

Trevor Sullivan’s croc, Big Jack. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

He previously told the NT News he would only sell the 80-acre wildlife sanctuary to a family of young wildlife warriors.

“The world’s changing now, we’re looking at conservation more as an important way of life and also for our survival,” he said in October.

“Learning to coexist with animals is better than cleaning them out.”

One of Trevor Sullivan’s pet crocs inside its enclosure. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

An Environment, Parks, and Water Security Department spokesman said existing permits for pet crocs were not transferable.

“Permits are issued to a person and it will state the number of animals the permit covers,” the spokesman said.

“If a crocodile kept as a pet dies, it will be removed from the permit.

“No new permits will be issued to that person – which includes either a purchase or adoption of a new crocodile.”

The spokesman said the penalty for keeping a protected species such as crocodiles without authorisation was five years imprisonment under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1976.

He said the Department was finalising a policy that would outline “disposal arrangements” if a pet croc can no longer be kept by its owner.

“Captive animals cannot be released to the wild or the wildlife park for biosecurity reasons,” he said.

Opposition Environment Spokeswoman Jo Hersey. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Environment, Climate Change and Water Security Minister Kate Worden. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Environment, Climate Change and Water Security Minister Kate Worden did not confirm if the government would reconsider its position on permits for pets.

Ms Worden said the management plan had been open for consultation “earlier this year”.

According to the NT government’s Have Your Say site, consultation closed March 1 this year.

“Crocodiles are dangerous animals,” Ms Worden said.

“For the protection of crocodile owners, and to ensure the welfare of the crocodiles, no new permits to keep crocs as pets will be issued under the Saltwater Crocodile Management Plan 2024-2034.”

Opposition Environment Spokeswoman Jo Hersey said the CLP supported the “rights of Territorians to own crocs as pets under a permit system”.

“Labor’s changes to the rules have been rushed in without any genuine consultation with the community and we would review these proposed changes if elected on 24 August,” she said.