As many grey nomads begin checking their maps and plotting a route northwards, the sighting of a large saltie in Western Australia’s Ningaloo Marine Park has underlined the importance of travellers remaining croc vigilant at all times.
The three-metre crocodile was seen within 15 metres of the shoreline inside the park’s lagoon area. The last time a saltwater crocodile was seen so far south was at Coral Bay back in 2009.
The Department of Environment and Conservation has warned Easter holidaymakers and travellers to exercise extreme caution, and it says the fact that salties are turning up so far south means everybody has to be pretty cautious about what is happening.
Ningaloo is a place where many grey nomads do like to get into the water because of the beach’s proximity to the reef.
The DEC has been conducting aerial patrols to confirm the sighting, while warning signs are being placed in key locations.
“With any sort of camping experience in the marine park or along the adjacent shoreline, it’s always about taking precautions,” the DEC’S Ray De Jong told the ABC. “Be vigilant and keep an eye out for your surroundings when you are entering the water.”
The ABC says the normal distribution of saltwater crocodiles in Western Australia is from near Onslow, about 100 kilometres north of Ningaloo, up the coast to the Northern Territory border. Most are found along the Kimberley coast.
What is the furthest south you have seen a saltie? Comment below.
We are currently in Kununurra in a caravan park. Freshwater crocs frequent the lake outside our van but recently a salty was seen in the area, apparently the first for 4 years. Yesterday I saw children water skiing – OMG how does the word get out to let people know.
In 2001 a friend and I were fishing about one kilometre off Barn Hill caravan park and had a crocodile came to within about 30 metres of of our boat. Barn Hill is about 130 kilometres South of Broome.