Hunter Valley Zoo stolen reptiles returned to their Nulkaba enclosures

Investigators had been making inquiries after break-ins at the Nulkaba private zoo on October 22 and 25 that left them without nine carpet pythons, six shingleback lizards and a bearded dragon.

Zoo manager Jason Pearson told the Newcastle Herald shortly after the robbery that the zoo was unlikely to replace the stolen creatures, which had been targeted by thieves previously, and that keepers were keen to ensure the animals were properly cared for.

They got that chance on Thursday when police searched a Kurri Kurri house and found some of the missing reptiles as well as several others.

Mr Pearson said on Friday that his staff were thrilled with Central Hunter police returning some of the animals and remained hopeful the outstanding creatures would be found soon. 

"We are just absolutely stoked with them," he said.

"The cops are always really good to us, we've had a few problems and they always take it really seriously even though they are always under-resourced."

Officers found two carpet pythons, three shingleback lizards, three bearded dragons and a gecko as well as a long-necked turtle and a green tree frog.

A qualified Hunter Valley Zoo keeper relocated the animals back to the zoo from the scene.

Mr Pearson said the animals would require quarantine for about 30 days to protect the zoo's other animals, but he was relieved they were returned alive.

"They can't go straight back into their enclosures because we don't know what they've come into contact with," he said.

"It'st just a massive inconvenience and really harsh on the animals.

"They could have just been hanging out in their enclosures, especially now that the sun's back out."

Police interviewed a youth at Maitland police station after the incident.

He will likely be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.