Originally Posted by CNN

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- A 7-year-old boy broke into a popular Outback zoo, fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile and bashed several lizards to death with a rock, the zoo's director said Friday.

The 30-minute rampage, caught on the zoo's security camera, happened early Wednesday after the boy jumped a security fence at the Alice Springs Reptile Center in central Australia, said zoo director Rex Neindorf.

The child then went on a killing spree, bashing three lizards to death with a rock, including the zoo's beloved, 20-year-old goanna, which he then fed to "Terry," an 11-foot, 440-pound saltwater crocodile, said Neindorf.

The boy also fed several live animals to Terry by throwing them over the two fences surrounding the crocodile's enclosure, at one point climbing over the outer fence to get closer to the giant reptile.

In the footage, the boy's face remains largely blank, Neindorf said, adding: "It was like he was playing a game."

By the time he was done, 13 animals worth around $5,500 had been killed, including a turtle, bearded dragons and thorny devil lizards, Neindorf said. Although none were considered rare, some are difficult to replace, he said.

"We're horrified that anyone can do this and saddened by the age of the child," Neindorf said.

Alice Springs police said they are unable to press charges against the boy because of his age. Children under age 10 can't be charged with criminal offenses in the Northern Territory. His name was not released because of his age.

Neindorf said he plans to sue the boy's parents.

The boy's small size is probably the reason he didn't trip the zoo's security system, which relies on sensors to detect intruders, Neindorf said.

"I just want people to learn that they can't let their children go and run amok," Neindorf said. "If we can't put the blame onto the child, then someone has to accept the responsibility."

Originally Posted by nuttyturnip (Post 649439)

If he had just fed the animals to the crocodile, I might agree with you. At 7 years old, though, he should understand that beating an animal to death with a stick is wrong.

Originally Posted by CNN

"We're horrified that anyone can do this and saddened by the age of the child," Neindorf said.

Originally Posted by Jessykins <3 (Post 649525)

Does anybody else see this and think that he means he's just mad that they won't be able to punish the little shit in any meaningful way?

Originally Posted by DeLorean (Post 649519)

Feeding things to a crocodile, especially live things, sounds like extreme fun to me. But I agree that breaking into the zoo and bashing lizards on the head with a rock is way over the line, his parents should be held accountable.

Originally Posted by Leprenigger (Post 649555)

Yeah, it all depends on what HOW you kill the animal, right? I mean, shit. How you come to the conclusion that the line is over there by the rock but no where near the THROWING THINGS OVER THE FENCE TO FEED TO A LIZARD?

Originally Posted by Leprenigger (Post 649555)

I should ban you for general idiocy. Someone give me a reason not to.

Originally Posted by nuttyturnip (Post 649429)

There are so many things wrong in this story. How is a 7 year old left with so little supervision that he can break into a zoo without his parents noticing? What kind of little demon spawn is he?

Originally Posted by nuttyturnip (Post 649576)

At 7, a kid might not comprehend that tossing a small animal to a crocodile and watching it be devoured is a terrible thing.

Originally Posted by RacinReaver (Post 649539)

In Australia a knife is to a machete as bash with a rock to death is to ???

Originally Posted by Traveller87

While a seven-year-old may not have a concept of what "death" really is yet and may not understand that actions in this direction are irreversible, a 30-minute killing spree is extremely concerning.