Noonameena Scout camp caretaker Chris Littlejohns was having a yarn on his veranda late on Monday afternoon when he noticed a creature emerging from the bush around the site at Pambula on the South Coast.
''I called to everyone to bring a camera because a big goanna was coming and it poked its nose out and then its shoulder and I thought, 'Gosh, that's not a goanna'. And it wasn't it was a crocodile.''
Or was it?
Wildlife experts were debating yesterday whether the scaly-skinned interloper was an alligator or a saltwater crocodile; with last-minute consensus it was indeed an alligator.
Either way, the 1.5m long creature was a shock and a long way from its native home, in either the United States or China. Visitors to Pambula are more used to seeing kangaroos on the golf course than a prehistoric predator in the bush.
There was talk yesterday it might have been one of a number of alligators stolen from a reptile park on the Central Coast of NSW a few years ago. Authorities believe it was probably a pet being illegally held somewhere close to Pambula.
The alligator is due to arrive at Mogo Zoo today before a permanent home is found.
Bungendore truck driver Hans Rasker was among those holidaying at the Scout camp who helped Mr Littlejohns catch the reptile.
''I thought, 'This can't be real'. Someone's pulling my leg,'' he said.
The alligator was initially content feeding on some yellowtail Mr Littlejohns' son, Owen, 15, had caught that morning. Then it was on the move, startling a crowd of about 25 onlookers.
''He was off and he was either going to go into the bush or on to the main highway and there's houses in between that so we thought we better do something to slow him down until the right authorities turn up,'' Mr Rasker said.
The men used a volleyball net to catch the 'gator and then wrestled with the animal, putting a rope and then insulation tape over its mouth.
Mr Rasker is used to handling dangerous animals he's also a volunteer snake handler with Wildcare Queanbeyan.
''There were a couple of us involved,'' he said. ''It took pretty much two of us to hold him down.''
The families at the campsite were all from Scout groups or retired Scout leaders and Mr Rasker agreed there were a few people there who knew a thing or two about tying an alligator in knots.
Police, Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service volunteers and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service all attended the campsite.
WIRES Far South Coast group reptile coordinator Kerry Power and her husband, Steve, are keeping the animal, a juvenile male estimated to be about four years old, on their property in the hills outside Bega.
''When we got the phone call from one of our volunteers saying that there was a crocodile down near Pambula golf course, I said, 'Ha-ha, that's funny'. But then I realised they were serious,'' Mrs Power said.
The couple believe Monday's excitement left the animal stressed and exhausted but it is otherwise in good health.
''He's in good condition for his age, he just shouldn't be here that's all,'' Mrs Power said.
The couple are feeding the animal lots of fish, enjoying their unusual house guest.
Mr Power said, ''We've had death adders and all sorts of snakes through the place but never anything this exotic. I think that he's somebody's pet who has escaped or maybe they just didn't want to look after him any more.''
National Parks and Wildlife Service area manager Stephen Dovey said that the arrival of the animal in Pambula was a big surprise but probably no accident.
''Given that alligators are not found in Australia it seems very possible that the animal has been obtained illegally and brought to the Far South Coast where it's either escaped captivity or been deliberately released. If this is the case then an offence has been committed,'' he said.
''You are not allowed to bring an animal like this into the country, let alone hold one, unless you have obtained all appropriate approvals through federal authorities. If anyone knows anything about the alligator then we'd like them to call the Department of Environment and Climate Change Enviroline on 131555 as soon as possible.''
And as for a name? ''Someone said we ought to call it 'Noonameena Croc','' Mr Littlejohns said. Or should that be Noonameena 'Gator?
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