The fight to free Old Faithful, the ‘majestic, wild crocodile’ made famous by Steve Irwin: ‘His place is back in the river’

<p>Exclusive: When Queensland rangers removed the 4.2m reptile from his waterhole and placed him in captivity, lawyers – and Irwin Sr – began agitating for his liberation</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Barry Lyon was a district ranger in Cape York during the 1990s when he, his wife, Shelley, and their mate Steve started to become concerned about a few <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/03/queensland-crocodile-cull-problem-qld-people">saltwater crocodiles</a> becoming “a bit cheeky”.</p><p>The population of the apex predator of Australia’s tropical north had begun to recover after being hunted to near extinction a few decades ago.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/28/legal-fight-to-free-old-faithful-crocodile-in-captivity-queensland">Continue reading...</a>