Crocodile roaming NT backyard captured in esky

A small crocodile found wandering in a backyard near Darwin has been captured in an esky and handed over to rangers.

The animal was found at a home the Palmerston suburb of Woodroofe overnight.

Residents managed to trap it in an esky and then called authorities this morning.

Rangers believe the reptile had been kept illegally in the area, but managed to either escaped or was dumped.