As many grey nomads start to make serious plans for their migration northward, there have been several timely reminders of the potential threat posed by crocodiles in northern waters.
Caroline Cottam and Rodger Cooksley were fishing recently at Gunn Point, about 80km northeast of Darwin, when a 3.5m suddenly saltie reared its head in the surf.
“I turned to grab some more bait for my line,” Ms Cottam told the NT News. “And when I turned around Rodger said: ‘don’t panic, but a croc has landed on the beach next to your rod’.”
Earlier this year, a saltie even scared surfers out of the water at Nightcliff beach in Darwin.
And just a week or so ago, NT Parks and Wildlife rangers pulled a 3.5m croc out of a trap in Litchfield National Park, about 800 metres from where people swim at Wangi Falls.
Croc catcher Tommy Nichols told the NT News that the croc was deadly.
“Most definitely it could kill someone,” he said. “It’s a timely reminder to be croc wise, and not to swim anywhere that is not signposted.”
About six crocodiles are caught inside the park each year from three permanent traps: one at Cascade Creek and two at Wangi Creek.
* Are you croc aware when you head north? Have you seen fellow travellers taking unnecessary risks? Comment below.
3yrs ago when in Kakadu came across an elderly couple at a boat ramp….the woman was waist deep holding the tinny while the elderly man tottered off to get the car…..other side of the bridge less than 100 meyres away was a large croc sunbaking on a sand bank….guess it was their lucky day…and yes plenty of signage around warning of the dangers
Go visit the Yeppoon Crocodile Farm and find out why nobody should get into any northern rivers, waterholes etc. A good education for ALL families and individuals. You don’t get a second chance when you see how they are fed and how they can jump out of the water. People appear to completely be in denial when fishing these waters!!! It could be to their detriment.
Faye,
I was one of the people this articvle is about and we are definitely not in denial about crocodiles, you are wrong on this completely. We have fished this area many times without incident as we are very crocodile awareand this was one occasion there was a crocodile present. What isn’t printed is that the bait bin was a good safe distance away from the rods which were at the waters edge, so please be careful before you make assumptions about people.