Sydney: Two Australian boys who killed a crocodile living near their homes in the country's tropical north could face thousands of dollars in fines after animal rights activists condemned their actions.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has called on authorities to prosecute the boys, aged 12 and 14, over the death of the 1.8 metre reptile.

The boys told the Cairns Post newspaper they caught the crocodile in a creek in the suburbs of Cairns then killed it by hitting it with a rock because they wanted to protect their community.

"We got a torch, a big hook and some meat and went down and got it," one of the boys told the newspaper. "We just wanted to get it out for the safety of the people," the other boy said.

The RSPCA said the boys should face animal cruelty charges, under which they could be fined up to 16,000 (14,700 US).

"It really doesn't matter what sort of animal it is, they still have turned around and just basically beaten an animal to death for no reason," Queensland RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said.

"On top of that crocodiles are protected, and protected for a reason." The Queensland state parks and wildlife service said it had procedures in place to remove crocodiles from built up areas and residents should not take matters into their own hands.

"The safety of people is paramount, but any suggestion that people take the law into their own hands is highly irresponsible and extremely dangerous," it said.

Source : PTI