Mr Hayes said that he had recently hoped to rehome a crocodile from Queensland, but after he was denied a permit in the NT, he now fears the animal will be killed.

“We’re not quite sure what’s going to happen,” Mr Hayes said. “I can’t help this big old beautiful animal and that breaks my heart a little bit.”

Roger Matthews, a crocodile expert who catches and removes problem predators in the NT, disputed the benefits of the permit ban.

He told ABC News that some crocodiles that would have previously been rehomed safely according to stringent rules would instead be culled.

Mr Matthews said: “There’s half a dozen people that I’ve had to knock back from having a pet crocodile.”

Jo Langham, another NT resident, described her and her husband’s pet crocodile, Horry, as the easiest animal they have ever looked after.

“No pet sitters, no walking, no coochie-cooing required,” she told ABC.

Ms Langham advised that a prerequisite for anyone owning a crocodile is a large, secure pen.

“It’s not really something to be entered into lightly, you’re still playing with a wild creature and you need to know what to expect,” she added.