“Big croc – well, technically it’s small, they get much bigger than this… this is a juvenile,” Holston can be heard saying in the video, holding up the crocodile.
“This thing is sick.”
Holston then handled the animal for a short period, before throwing it into the water and letting it swim away.
“I’m going to let this guy go… there’s bigger crocs in here so we’ve got to get out of here fast because it can get pretty ugly pretty quick, for both of us,” he said.
Returning to the boat, he remarked, “that was crazy”.
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Queensland updated its penalties for disturbing or interacting with crocodiles in September last year, and deliberately disturbing an animal can attract an on-the-spot fine of $2670.
Following court proceedings, penalties for interacting with crocodiles can cost more than $27,000.
The state also introduced penalties last year for being near crocodiles, meaning people found within 10 meters of a crocodile that is either on, or partially on, land – such as an animal basking in the sun – who do not have a “reasonable excuse” for being there can be fined up to $16,690.
While the footage was released across the weekend, Holston documented behind-the-scenes footage of himself in Queensland in mid-August, and the exact time the video was recorded is not known.
Videos and images posted earlier this year of Holston’s Australia trip.
Holston is a global brand ambassador for Nordstrom, living in the US. He is known for close wildlife encounters across the world, and studied Biology at Gainesville State College.
Holston was contacted for comment.
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