"A cranky koala achieved what an angry croc couldn't - it beat off thieves.
The bizarre incident began when Rockhampton police in Queensland received a tip-off that someone had a crocodile in their possession.
"The police came to the zoo, checked out our exhibit and we were down a female freshwater crocodile,'' said Tom Wyatt at Rockhampton City Council.
The 1.2 metre crocodile - known simply as "the girl freshie" - was dragged by thieves over a 2.4 metre fence in the middle of the night.
"Can you imagine these people struggling over a 2.4 metre security fence with a writhing wild reptile?" he said.
"It's not a baby you are holding in your arms here. We are talking about 40 kilograms and 1.2 metres of absolute fury."
"They are not man-eaters [like salt water crocodiles]. But they can still give you a nasty bite."
The thieves originally planned to take one of the zoo's koalas and only changed tack after it proved too vicious, 21-year-old zookeeper Wil Kemp told smh.com.au."
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/...441187263.html
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