Latest news with #ColtonMacaulay
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Shock moment idiot influencer Colton Macaulay wrestles deadly CROC & calls it a ‘little b***h' as wild stunt sparks fury
THIS is the shocking moment influencer Colton Macaulay wrestles a deadly croc, sparking widespread outrage. Alarming footage shows the 27-year-old pulling the exotic animal out of the water before parading it and calling it a "little b****" to his 15 million followers online. 5 5 The dangerous stunt was filmed in Australia earlier this year and amassed almost half a million views before it was deleted. An unnerving video captures the shirtless influencer standing barefoot in the water before forcefully plucking the animal from the creek. The creature appears distressed as he flails his tail, while being gripped firmly around the neck. Speaking in a voiceover, Colton said: "Hey guys, I'm in Australia right now, and we just yoinked a freshwater croc,' Macaulay explained in a voiceover. "I don't think he was happy about it because he started making these sounds like a chainsaw. Or maybe that's the sound they make when they decide to cry like a little b***h.' The bizarre video, captioned "catching crocodiles in Australia", has since received a barrage of criticism. One concerned viewer said: "How stupid are you?" While others condemned the act as "thoughtless", calling the influencer "stupid" and a "moron". Meanwhile, World Animal Protection Australia director Ben Pearson slammed the handling of the croc as "unacceptable", calling it "cruelty for the sake of content". He told the Mail Online: "This is cruelty for the sake of content, and we know the general public would agree handling freshwater crocs in this way is unacceptable. American influencer sparks outrage in Australia after taking baby wombat from its mom- heads to follow "Crocodiles are not a photo prop or plaything, and they should be treated with respect. "Just a quick look at this influencer's account and you can see multiple videos where they're interfering with Aussie wildlife in their homes, from cassowaries to wobbegong sharks. "Our iconic Australian animals, like all wildlife, are best loved from a distance." Freshwater crocodiles are native to northern Australia and whilst not considered dangerous they can bite if they feel threatened. A permit is required to handle them. Colton's shocking video comes just months after an American hunting influencer sparked outrage after she filmed a video of herself snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, who claims to be a "wildlife biologist and environmental scientist" posted the now deleted video on Instagram capturing the moment she picked up the animal and ran with it as it dangled around in the air. After racing across the road with the startled wombat, Jones held it up to the camera and said: "I caught a baby wombat!" Meanwhile, the baby wombat's mother chased after Jones, appearing extremely distressed. This was noticed by the man filming the video who said: "Look at the mother, it's chasing after her." Jones said: 'OK mama's right there and she is p***ed, let's let him go." 5 5
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Shock moment idiot influencer Colton Macaulay wrestles deadly CROC & calls it a ‘little b***h' as wild stunt sparks fury
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the shocking moment influencer Colton Macaulay wrestles a deadly croc, sparking widespread outrage. Alarming footage shows the 27-year-old pulling the exotic animal out of the water before parading it and calling it a "little b****" to his 15 million followers online. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 This is the shocking moment an influencer handles a wild croc Credit: YouTube 5 The video sparked widespread outrage with many calling him a 'moron' Credit: YouTube 5 The stunt was filmed for the influencer's millions of followers Credit: Instagram The dangerous stunt was filmed in Australia earlier this year and amassed almost half a million views before it was deleted. An unnerving video captures the shirtless influencer standing barefoot in the water before forcefully plucking the animal from the creek. The creature appears distressed as he flails his tail, while being gripped firmly around the neck. Speaking in a voiceover, Colton said: "Hey guys, I'm in Australia right now, and we just yoinked a freshwater croc,' Macaulay explained in a voiceover. "I don't think he was happy about it because he started making these sounds like a chainsaw. Or maybe that's the sound they make when they decide to cry like a little b***h.' The bizarre video, captioned "catching crocodiles in Australia", has since received a barrage of criticism. One concerned viewer said: "How stupid are you?" While others condemned the act as "thoughtless", calling the influencer "stupid" and a "moron". Meanwhile, World Animal Protection Australia director Ben Pearson slammed the handling of the croc as "unacceptable", calling it "cruelty for the sake of content". He told the Mail Online: "This is cruelty for the sake of content, and we know the general public would agree handling freshwater crocs in this way is unacceptable. American influencer sparks outrage in Australia after taking baby wombat from its mom- heads to follow "Crocodiles are not a photo prop or plaything, and they should be treated with respect. "Just a quick look at this influencer's account and you can see multiple videos where they're interfering with Aussie wildlife in their homes, from cassowaries to wobbegong sharks. "Our iconic Australian animals, like all wildlife, are best loved from a distance." Freshwater crocodiles are native to northern Australia and whilst not considered dangerous they can bite if they feel threatened. A permit is required to handle them. Colton's shocking video comes just months after an American hunting influencer sparked outrage after she filmed a video of herself snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, who claims to be a "wildlife biologist and environmental scientist" posted the now deleted video on Instagram capturing the moment she picked up the animal and ran with it as it dangled around in the air. After racing across the road with the startled wombat, Jones held it up to the camera and said: "I caught a baby wombat!" Meanwhile, the baby wombat's mother chased after Jones, appearing extremely distressed. This was noticed by the man filming the video who said: "Look at the mother, it's chasing after her." Jones said: 'OK mama's right there and she is p***ed, let's let him go." 5 Freshwater crocodiles are native to northern Australia Credit: YouTube
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
Canadian influencer slammed for dangerous crocodile act
A Canadian influencer has sparked intense backlash after posting footage of himself capturing a baby crocodile in Australia for a video opportunity. It was posted by Colton Macaulay, who uses the handles @kingcoltyy and @coltyy online, where he has a combined 16 million followers across various platforms. The 27-year-old student from Nova Scotia, Canada, has built a large following for his content, which often involves taking part in challenges with wildlife and exotic animals. Influencer picks up crocodile The video, now deleted from all platforms except Facebook, is titled 'Catching crocodiles in Australia'. The footage shows Macaulay picking up a baby freshwater crocodile out of a creek at night with his bare hands. After spotting it in the water, he holds it up by the neck for the camera as it thrashes about, and its tail dangles in the air. 'Hey guys, I'm in Australia right now, and we just yoinked a freshwater croc,' he says in the voice-over. 'I don't think he was happy about it because he started making these sounds like a chainsaw. Or maybe that's the sound they make when they decide to cry like a little b*tch.' The crocodile is seen with its jaw wide open, making a shrieking noise while Macaulay grabs its neck to hold it. While freshwater crocodiles are not considered as dangerous as their saltwater counterparts because they are usually shy and tend to avoid humans, they can bite if they feel threatened, causing serious injuries. is not aware of any investigations related to the incident. It is also not clear if Macauley has a permit for his activity. It is not known which state or territory the video was filmed in. However, this species is only found in the northern regions, specifically the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. Crocodile expert and conservationalist Paul Bowen believes it was in Cape York. It is also not known exactly when the influencer was in Australia, as content creators often post videos after they leave a country. He shared this particular clip on January 27 but has been posting videos from Australia up until four days ago. The swift backlash His video has amassed nearly half a million views, with many comments condemning his actions. One called him a 'moron'. 'How stupid are you?' asked someone else, while another said he was an 'idiot'. Meanwhile, a different commenter called him 'a disgrace'. Handling crocodiles Macaulay's video includes a warning on it that claimed the act was 'performed by a professional'. According to LinkedIn, Macaulay is currently a student at Acadia University in Canada and has worked as a sales representative, waiter, professional removalist, and door-to-door market researcher. has reached out to him for comment. Only authorised individuals are permitted to handle crocodiles in Australia, and permits are only given out by each state's relevant government department. These include the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in Western Australia, the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation in QLD and Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. Mr Bowen told that if the video was filmed in QLD, 'No one can handle crocodiles in the wild, unless they're from Australia Zoo Crocodile Research Team or work for the Department of Environmental and Science Crocodile Team. 'No random person can obtain a permit to catch crocodiles unless it is specifically for research purposes.' Mr Bowen also said that as Macaulay is a foreign visitor, it is unlikely he would be able to obtain a permit to handle a crocodile, especially for what appeared to be the recreational purposes shown in his video. 'Permits are generally required for specific activities like farming, education, or egg harvesting,' he said. has reached out to the respective government departments to determine if Macaulay has a permit, but it is not clear at time of publishing. Laws around interfering with crocodiles Freshwater crocodiles are a protected species in Australia, which means they fall under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. A spokesperson for Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water told 'A person may commit an offence if they take or move a member of a listed threatened species from in or on a Commonwealth area without approval'. That means that if a person does not have a permit, interfering with crocodiles is an offence carrying various penalties, depending on the state in which it occurred. In the Northern Territory, interfering with wildlife comes with a penalty of $92,500 or up to five years in prison. In Queensland, deliberately disturbing crocodiles can result in a fine of up to $26,615, and in Western Australia, it's up to $200,000. Animal welfare considerations A lawyer from the Animal Defenders Office, a legal centre specialising in animal protection, said that crocodiles are covered by animal welfare laws in Australia. 'There are no doubt a plethora of nature conservation laws that would apply to this person,' they added. NT Parks and Wildlife weighs in There's also the obvious safety concerns. A Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife spokesperson has said that interacting with crocodiles is a risky move for the human and the animal. 'It can cause injury or death and impact a crocodile's behaviour around humans,' they said. 'Interference can result in the animal needing to be removed from the wild due to altered behaviour and becoming dangerous to the public. Often these animals are destroyed.' Conservationist's concerns Mr Bowen says this video is part of a broader trend of content creators filming questionable videos with animals for views. 'I have noticed a dramatic influx of not only influencers messing with our native wildlife in Australia, including freshwater crocodiles, but also with different species of crocodiles,' he said. He believes a lack of education is to blame. 'I would like to see more education programs regarding crocodile safety implemented in schools across the country, as it would create a positive ripple effect,' he said. Influencer's other dangerous videos It's not the first time Macaulay has publicly shared videos of him catching, handling and interacting with wild animals in Australia. This week, he shared a clip of himself catching the world's most venomous fish, the stonefish, which is capable of killing an adult within an hour of being stung. Despite knowing it has fatal venom, Macaulay picks it up with his hands and then attempts to release the fish of its venom by using a thong to squirt it into the air. In a clip from March, he admits to having caught 40 snakes during his 10-day stay in Australia. He is then seen goading various snakes to try and bite him, until one, which he believes is non-venomous, does. In another video, he was accidentally bitten by an Eastern Small-eyed snake, which is highly venomous, and he called it his 'closest brush with death'. He has also shared two videos of himself swimming in crocodile-infested waters. Yet another video shows him handling a Red Back Spider, with the intention to 'f**k around and find out' what happens. He ended up getting bitten but claims he didn't go to hospital because he had a flight to catch. In another clip from two weeks ago, he shared himself taking geckos, iguanas and baby turtles from their habitats in Florida. When he wakes up the reptiles while they sleep to catch and film them, some start making noises. He then called himself the 'Freddy Krueger of reptiles,' a nod to the Nightmare on Elm Street character. When asked why he enjoys doing these sorts of things, he says it provides him with adrenaline and makes him 'feel something'.
7NEWS
5 days ago
- 7NEWS
Canadian influencer Colton Macaulay cops backlash from Australians over video of him holding baby crocodile
A Canadian influencer has left Australians shocked over a video of him snatching a crocodile out of the water and holding it in front of the camera. In the clip, Colton Macaulay can be seen holding a medium-sized crocodile which when pulled out of the water begins to thrash about and opens its jaws — clearly not happy with being disturbed. The video Catching Crocodiles In Australia was reported on and has since been deleted off Macaulay's social media accounts where he has more than 15 million followers combined. The 27-year-old from Nova Scotia, Canada, has videos with him handling what appear to be dangerous insects and exotic animals and boasting about it to his fans. Other videos on his social media accounts show him getting bitten by snakes, having spiders crawl across his face and small insects all over his hands. But it was the influencer's antics Down Under that earnt him backlash from Aussie viewers shocked that he not only disturbed native animals but seemingly had no regard for the danger he had put himself in. The video amassed nearly half a million views until it was removed, with many comments condemning his actions. 'How stupid are you?' asked one user, while others called him a 'moron' and an 'idiot.' It's not the first time an influencer has caused backlash for tampering with Australian wildlife. Earlier this year, American influencer Sam Jones was condemned for picking up a baby wombat on the side of the road so she could pose for a picture with it. It was clearly in distress after being snatched from its mother, with the footage sparking mass condemnation. Jones later apologised in another video. Authorisation is needed to handle crocodiles in Australia, with permits handled by the individual States. It is not clear whether the influencer was familiar with the relevant laws. Ben Pearson, Country Director at World Animal Protection Australia told Perth Now that it condemned Macaulay's actions. 'Just a quick look at this influencer's account and you can see multiple videos where they're interfering with Aussie wildlife in their homes, from cassowaries to wobbegong sharks. Our iconic Australian animals, like all wildlife, are best loved from a distance.' Pearson said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Anger erupts after Canadian tourist's 'disgusting' stunt with juvenile crocodile
A Canadian tourist is copping fierce backlash after he handled a "very distressed" juvenile freshwater crocodile in rural Australia. The incident, posted online by Colton Macaulay, shows the social media influencer standing topless as he pulls a small freshwater crocodile from the water with his bare hands. "Hey guys, I'm in Australia right now and we just yoinked a freshwater croc," he says in the video, which has since been taken down. The crocodile is seen thrashing about as it's pulled from the water. He then holds the reptile to the camera, keeping it in place by holding it by the neck. "I don't think he was happy about it because he started making these sounds like a chainsaw. Or maybe that's the sound they make when they decide to cry like a little b***h." While it's unclear if the video was taken in Queensland, Northern Territory or northern Western Australia, one conservationist told Yahoo News he is calling on all levels of government to "step up" and take action on the issue. Matt Cornish, co-founder of Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC), is among those to criticise the influencer's dangerous actions and described the vision as "disgusting" and "deplorable". "If we have someone, regardless of which country they are from, abusing our native wildlife, [authorities] need to step up and make an example of them," he told Yahoo News. The influencer claimed in his footage to be a "professional", however, Matt argues that without the correct permits, he is "nothing more than a social media idiot". Permits can be granted in Queensland and the Northern Territory to handle crocodiles in the wild, but they are rarely given out and typically restricted to zoos and government officials when required for research or public safety reasons. "Self-proclaimed professionals have no idea what they are doing, and they are obviously breaking the law by handling native wildlife without the right permits," he said. "We need all levels of government to step up and take control of the situation, it's continuing, and we need to stamp down on it," he said, referencing a similar incident earlier this year where an American tourist shared a video of herself snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Another crocodile advocate Paul Bowen, who runs the emerging Croc Conscious social media accounts, warned that the juvenile crocodile seen in the video would have been 'very stressed' by the encounter, leading to a build-up of lactic acid, which in extreme scenarios can be deadly. The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation was not able to confirm or deny to Yahoo News if Macaulay has a permit in the state. A spokesperson told Yahoo News that there is a maximum penalty of $6,674 for disturbing dangerous animals in the wild. "People should keep a safe distance away from native animals they see in the wild," the spokesperson said. "Not only is this dangerous for the person, interacting with wild animals can habituate them." Without an exact location for the incident, an investigation cannot be launched. Macaulay now appears to be back in Canada. 🐍 Influencers facing $464,400 fines for copying Steve Irwin photo 'trend' 🐊 Disturbing video of wild crocodile stunt prompts warning 📸 Australia faces 'big problem' as US tourist who snatched baby wombat flees Ben Pearson, Country Director at World Animal Protection Australia said told Yahoo News "this is cruelty for the sake of content". "Aussies are quite rightly outraged by this video," he said, describing the influencer's actions as "unacceptable". "Crocodiles are not a photo prop or plaything, and they should be treated with respect," he said. It's not the first time a tourist has mishandled a native animal and shared it online. Earlier this year, American Sam Jones faced fierce criticism for taking a baby wombat away from its mother along a country road. The 34-second clip, which was quickly deleted, saw the woman gleefully running back to her car holding the animal. 'Just caught a baby wombat,' her laughing male Australian colleague can be heard saying from behind the camera. 'Look at the mother, chasing after her.' But the incident exposed a "big problem" when it comes to enforcing the law when influencers exploit the nation's wildlife for clicks and likes. "There aren't enough people on the ground to be able to deal with the amount of incidents that are coming forward now with the rise of social media," managing lawyer from Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) Kirstiana Ward told Yahoo News at the time. In Australia, the federal government is only responsible for prosecuting companies or people that 'significantly' harm threatened species. Otherwise, enforcing wildlife laws is left up to the states and territories. So if it's unclear where an influencer shot their video, even if they clearly committed an offence, a prosecution is rarely possible. Yahoo News has contacted Colton Macaulay for comment. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
