Two teenage boys are due to appear at Perth Children's Court accused of breaking into Perth Zoo and attacking a resident crocodile with a metal pole. Perth Zoo said the reptile, a 4.5-metre saltwater crocodile named Dangalabba, suffered minor injuries in the alleged assault and is being closely monitored by veterinary staff, prompting the zoo to condemn the incident as reckless and a risk to both animal welfare and human safety.

Western Australian Police allege the boys, aged 16 and 17, entered the zoo by unknown means at about 7.15pm on Sunday, cut the locks on the crocodile enclosure and struck the animal with a pole, before damaging two CCTV cameras and fleeing. Officers arrested the pair at addresses in Baldivis and Belmont on Monday, and they now face two counts of criminal damage, one count of trespass and one count of animal cruelty. Dangalabba, believed to be around 40 years old, was previously removed from Darwin Harbour by wildlife officers before being rehomed at Perth Zoo; his enclosure was taken off public display following the incident, which the zoo says it is reviewing alongside its security measures.