Crocodile on the loose in NT prison

Prison officers are on the hunt for a crocodile which is now at large within the walls of Darwin Correctional Centre.

The 30cm croc was on loan to the jail for an animal care program when it escaped, the Northern Territory News reports.

Minister of Correctional Services John Elferink could not help but crack some jokes about the reptile fugitive.

"I'm not sure we can call it Escape from Crocatraz or Crocshank Redemption, or The Great Croc Escape," he said.

"And I'm not ruling out someone may have eaten it, so we're looking for a 'man, eating croc'."

There are croc traps surrounding the prison but there are fears the tiny crocodile could just slip through.

"Once we determined he'd be fit and healthy he'd be handed over to the crocodile farm and become a handbag or a belt," Mr Elferink said.

"He's probably a genius croc and reckoned the future wasn't too bright for him at Gucci."