Daredevil is slammed after his 'stupid' stunt with a freshwater crocodile is captured on camera
- Footage shows man yanking crocodile's tail
- Wildlife authorities looking into the clip
- READ MORE: Warning issued about NT swimming spot
A man has been blasted over a 'stupid' stunt after he was filmed sneaking up on a small freshwater crocodile and yanking its tail.
The clip is believed to have been filmed in the Northern Territory and shows a man in a singlet and thongs repeatedly pulling the docile croc's tail before he and another man give the thumbs up and say 'Welcome to Australia'.
The video was shared online by a woman who filmed the stunt and it immediately drew condemnation from social media users.
The incident was assumed to have happened in Queensland, however authorities said an investigation had led them to believe it took place in the NT.
The man's singlet has the logo of a Darwin concreting business.
Professional crocodile wrangler Tommy Hayes said the freshwater crocodile did not pose any threat and would have been trying to flee.
'The poor little bugger, it's clearly scared. With freshies all they want to do is get away,' he told Yahoo.
'You're very lucky to get that close to one, so why make it a traumatic experience for it? It's definitely a welfare issue.'
Some people said the crocodile appeared like it could have been stuck between rocks.
Mr Hayes said even if that were the case, moving it should be left to professional wranglers or wildlife rangers who can do so without causing the animal any distress.
He slammed the stunt as 'stupid' if it was done to get views on social media.
'I don't think people are doing more dumb sh** ... it's being filmed and put up. At the end of the day what are they gaining? Okay you got 40,000 views, so what?'
The clip shows the man repeatedly pulling on the crocodile's tail (pictured)
Social media users also slammed the video.
'It's embarrassing being from Australia sometimes,' one wrote.
'Big man,' another added.
Croc advocate Paul Bowen said while injuries from freshwater crocodiles are rare they can give a nasty bite if they are cornered.
In NT it is illegal to interfere with a crocodile in its natural habitat, though the circumstances surrounding the clip are unclear.
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