Wildlife officers have seized a baby saltwater crocodile after it was found near a creek in Brisbane's northside.
The 40 centimetre reptile was discovered about 80 metres from a creek near Newman Road in Chermside.
It is believed the crocodile was caught in the wild before being set free in Brisbane.
Wildlife officers from the Department of Environment and Science (DES) said the crocodile was dehydrated and distressed and has since been placed in a pond in a Queensland Parks and Wildlife facility "to recover from its ordeal".
In a statement, a DES spokesperson said transporting a wild animal, particularly a dangerous one, was "completely unacceptable".
"Apart from being very cruel, doing so can cause serious issues such as transmission of disease and introducing them into unsuitable habitat," the spokesperson said.
"The young crocodile is currently only 40 centimetres long, but if it had grown to full size, it would have posed a danger to the public.
"But there's a happy ending for this young crocodile who will now receive the best of care and be rehomed in one of the Queensland Government wildlife centres in south east Queensland."
The Department has asked anyone with any information about how the reptile was transported to Brisbane to contact them.
