A small freshwater crocodile has reportedly bitten a tourist in the Northern Territory’s iconic Litchfield National Park.
NT Parks has reacted by closing the popular Wangi Falls.
A spokeswoman for NT Parks said Wangi Falls “is currently closed for swimming after reports that a small crocodile bit a man yesterday afternoon, resulting in minor injuries”.
Rangers will survey the area tonight in a bid to ascertain species and size, but it is believed to be a freshwater crocodile less than a metre in length.
“For visitor safety and to reduce the risk of human interaction with wildlife, the waterhole will stay closed for swimming until all practical steps have been taken to capture and or remove the crocodile,” the spokesperson said. “Wangi Falls is closed for swimming; however the loop walks, viewing platform, picnic and barbeque areas and café remain open for public use … all other swimming holes in Litchfield remain open.”
Freshwater crocodiles are often viewed as virtually harmless in NT waterways under most circumstances.
However, the Katherine Times newspaper reports that, only recently NT Parks closed Bitter Springs at Mataranka after a large freshwater crocodile was spotted.
I have been known to swim with ‘freshies’ but I was a lot younger and stupider than I am now. You can actually see their red eyes at night if you use a torch.