Crocodile 'Burt' takes a bite of Santa's sack

ONE Territory croc is on Santa's naughty list after snacking on the jolly fellow's big, red sack.

Santa at Crocodylus Cove

ONE Territory croc is on Santa's naughty list after snacking on the jolly fellow's big, red sack.

Santa was doing some last minute checks on Territorians' "naughty or nice" status yesterday when he made a solo stop at Crocosaurus Cove, in Darwin.

"After a close croc call last year I decided it was best to leave the reindeer grazing at East Point," he said.

Saint Nick took a dip in the Cage of Death to cool off and say hello to 5.5m-long croc Chopper.

"The water was really refreshing - I'm not used to all this heat and humidity," the North Pole dweller said.

But when Santa dropped in on another inmate named Burt, the 700kg monster made like the Grinch and stole the big man's sack.

The staff at Croc Cove leapt into action to save Christmas and to ensure Burt - who is a sizeable specimen at 5.1m - didn't end up with a bellyache.

They failed to tempt the seasoned reptilian negotiator away from his stolen booty until handlers upped the ante with a whole chicken.

He dropped the sack and ate the chook- feathers and all.

Santa said the 80-year-old croc would be blacklisted for many a Christmas to come.

"Most of the crocs will get some nice big bits of special Territory ham (wild boar) but old Burt will only find coal in his stocking when I come back on Christmas Eve," he said.

Santa left Darwin with a twinkle in his eyes despite the new holes in his sack.