Four individuals are facing legal action for the alleged theft of numerous crocodile eggs from the renowned Kakadu National Park. The accused—pilot Sebastian Robinson, Timothy Luck, Dean Larsen, and Stephen Slark—are charged with illegally taking, retaining, and transporting a protected species from the park in February 2024. Additionally, the company SDRL Pty Ltd, trading as Kinga Contracting, has been implicated for allegedly gaining financial benefits through deception tied to this incident.
This case originated from a collaborative investigation conducted by Parks Australia, the Australian Federal Police, and the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission. Legal harvesting of crocodile eggs in the Northern Territory typically supports crocodile farming and involves skilled helicopter pilots who lower operators onto nests in remote wetland areas for collection.
During proceedings at the Darwin Local Court, Ruth Champion, representing the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, emphasised the severity of the charges concerning the illegal gathering of crocodile eggs. She highlighted the sophisticated and intricate nature of the operation, with multiple individuals working together, the utilisation of a helicopter, and the substantial quantity of eggs stolen—amounting to hundreds.
Champion also expressed concerns regarding the repercussions of this alleged egg theft on the Traditional Owners of the land, noting the cultural damage it causes. In response, defence lawyer Thomas Clelland highlighted the complexities of the case, particularly relating to DNA evidence.
Judge Elizabeth Morris has scheduled a five-day hearing to take place from November 30 to December 4, during which 10 witnesses are expected to testify.
It’s noteworthy that in February 2022, Robinson was flying a helicopter for a legitimate crocodile egg collection mission when it crashed, resulting in the death of egg collector Chris “Willow” Wilson and leaving Robinson with a life-altering injury. The helicopter operator and reality TV personality Matt Wright, who employed them, was convicted in December for attempting to obstruct justice regarding the crash investigation. Wright, known for his appearances on popular television shows like “Outback Wrangler” and “Wild Croc Territory,” is currently serving a five-month sentence for tampering with evidence but is not linked to the egg theft allegations.