American Influencer’s Crocodile Stunt Sparks Deportation Calls and Ban from Australia

(QUEENSLAND) American influencer Mike Holston, known online as “The Real Tarzann,” faces a potential visa review and possible deportation after posting a video on September 4, 2025 that shows him wrestling a freshwater crocodile near Lockhart River on Cape York, Queensland. The clip quickly drew millions of views across platforms and sparked widespread anger from animal welfare groups, wildlife experts, and members of Parliament calling for immediate enforcement action and a permanent ban from entering Australia.

Queensland wildlife authorities confirmed they’ve opened an investigation into whether Holston breached the Nature Conservation Act by disturbing or handling a crocodile without a permit. Penalties for such offenses can include fines up to A$200,000 and prison terms of up to five years, depending on the severity and intent. Officials also said they’re sharing information with federal immigration authorities as part of standard practice when suspected criminal conduct involves a non-citizen.

Public and advocacy responses

Advocacy groups have publicly pressed the government to act.

• PETA demanded that Holston be deported and barred for life, saying his behavior puts both animals and people at risk.
• Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC) said the stunt was distressing and illegal, warning that posting it on large social media accounts encourages copycat behavior.
• Ben Pearson of World Animal Protection Australia called it “cruelty for the sake of content,” adding, “Crocodiles are not playthings… This irresponsible behavior puts wildlife and people at risk.”

Holston appeared to sustain a bite injury in the video. The footage was taken down after the backlash, but calls for stricter enforcement have only grown. Wildlife advocates argue the removal does not erase the harm to the crocodile or the risk created by normalizing hands-on wildlife “content” for profit.

Important: Removal of a post does not nullify criminal or immigration consequences. Online evidence can still be used in investigations.

Legal and immigration fallout

Queensland’s investigation will focus on whether Holston had any lawful authority to approach and handle the crocodile. Under long-standing rules, permits are reserved for trained researchers and conservation teams; handling wildlife without a permit is strictly banned. Authorities can use online posts as evidence, and they have asked witnesses to come forward.

Immigration consequences are unfolding in parallel. As of September 9, 2025, there is no confirmed deportation order. However, officials are reviewing Holston’s visa in line with recent changes to the Migration Act that took effect in July 2025. Those changes expanded the Minister for Home Affairs’ powers to cancel visas on public interest grounds when a non-citizen is found to have committed a serious wildlife offense, even before a court conviction.

• Animal advocacy groups and several MPs have formally asked the minister to use those discretionary powers to cancel Holston’s visa and impose a re-entry ban.
• Foreign nationals facing visa review may receive a notice to comment on the allegations before a decision.
• If a visa is canceled, a person can be detained and removed, and may also receive a ban on returning for a set period or permanently.

Official guidance on the legal framework is available from the Australian Department of Home Affairs – Visa cancellation and refusal: . According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the 2025 amendments signal a tougher stance toward influencer-driven wildlife harm, targeting both the conduct and its broad public impact.

Queensland authorities said platform companies also have a role. Advocacy groups want social media sites to remove harmful wildlife content quickly and suspend accounts that promote illegal behavior. In 2024, the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition and World Animal Protection Australia rolled out new reporting tools to flag harmful posts. Campaigners say quicker action could reduce incentives to post extreme animal encounters.

Why this case matters for visitors and creators

The case highlights a growing focus on wildlife protection and the real immigration risks that now come with breaking these rules. Australia’s tightened laws in 2024–2025 aimed to curb unsafe tourism and influencer stunts with wild animals. In practice, that means:

• No handling of crocodiles without proper permits. Research or conservation permits are limited to trained professionals.
• Heavy penalties apply for disturbing wildlife, including large fines and prison terms.
• Visa consequences now attach directly to serious wildlife offenses, with the possibility of deportation and bans even before a criminal conviction if the minister finds it is in the public interest.

Legal scholars say the Holston matter could set a strong precedent. If authorities find a breach, they may pursue the top end of penalties to deter future stunts. The tourism sector is also watching: legitimate operators worry that illegal, high-profile incidents damage regional reputations and lead to tighter rules that affect compliant eco-tourism businesses.

Wildlife experts add that crocodiles are highly sensitive and can suffer psychological stress from forced contact. They stress that seemingly “playful” wrestling is not harmless; it risks injury to the animal, promotes unsafe behavior among viewers, and increases danger to local communities who rely on clear safety messages about keeping distance from crocodile habitats.

Practical advice for visitors and creators

For everyday visitors and creators, practical steps are clear:

• Keep your distance from wild animals. Do not feed, chase, touch, or restrain them.
• Book only licensed operators and ask about their permits and safety practices.
• Think before posting. Content that shows illegal or unsafe wildlife contact can trigger investigations and visa reviews.
• Report harmful content. If you see illegal wildlife content online, report it through platform tools or to relevant advocacy groups.

Standard enforcement pathway for suspected illegal wildlife handling

1. Incident reporting: Members of the public, advocacy groups, or platforms send reports and links to evidence.
2. Investigation: Wildlife officers review footage, visit locations, and check permit records.
3. Legal action: If violations are found, authorities can issue fines or pursue charges and alert immigration officials.
4. Visa review: The Department of Home Affairs assesses whether to cancel the person’s visa and remove them from Australia.
5. Platform enforcement: Social media companies may remove the content and suspend accounts.

Lawmakers have flagged further changes this year, including higher fines and possible mandatory minimum bans for foreign nationals involved in wildlife crimes. Social media firms face pressure to adjust their policies so that content with illegal animal handling is swiftly taken down and not rewarded by recommendation systems.

For Holston, the next weeks will likely determine both legal and immigration outcomes. If Queensland authorities confirm a breach of the Nature Conservation Act and refer the matter to federal officials, the minister could move to cancel his visa. If that happens, removal could follow, along with a multi-year or permanent re-entry bar. Even without immediate removal, the case will remain a cautionary tale: high-profile wildlife videos can carry very real costs.

The Real Tarzann brand was built on close animal encounters. But in Australia, the rules are clear, and the public mood has shifted strongly against performative wildlife contact. This incident—with a frightened crocodile, a bite, and a viral clip—has made those lines even sharper. For visitors and creators who love wildlife, the message is simple: admire from a distance, follow local laws, and don’t risk a criminal record—or deportation—for a few seconds of attention.