The decision to relocate a “culturally significant” crocodile from Far North Queensland to Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast has divided opinion.

Old Faithful was publicly welcomed to the zoo in a social media post, noting Steve and Terri Irwin’s contact with him in the 1990s. The post featured clips of Steve Irwin and the crocodile interacting in Rinyirru National Park.

Australia Zoo’s Toby Millyard said it was hoped Old Faithful could stay in his natural habitat, but members of the public feeding him and “not being Croc Wise” meant he was deemed a “problem crocodile”.

However, locals have criticised the choice to move him so far down south. Traditional owners were not consulted, and local facilities passed only in favour of transporting the crocodile down south, the Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC) said.

Old Faithful is not just an individual crocodile — he is a culturally significant animal on Country, with deep meaning to Traditional Owners.

“The way his removal and relocation unfolded has raised serious concerns about how decisions are being made, who is being consulted, and whether Indigenous rights and cultural authority were genuinely respected throughout this process.”