It may be a few months before most grey nomads start heading north, but they are already being warned that, once you get into the Tropics, crocodiles can – and do – turn up just about anywhere.
The NT Parks and Wildlife department has revealed that a total of 273 saltwater crocodiles were captured and removed from Top End waterways in 2022 by the Northern Territory Crocodile Management Unit.
This figure included a 2.5-metre saltie that had to be removed after it was spotted roaming around a caravan park in Dundee Beach back in August.
Another croc had to be pulled out of a backyard pool in a Palmerston suburb, quite a distance from the nearest natural body of water.
Crocs are present in big numbers in the north. PIC: Siggy Nowak / Pixabay
Among the bigger reptiles were a 4.11-metre saltwater crocodile, which was caught in West Arm in the Darwin Harbour … and a 5.1m-croc in the Finniss River, south of Darwin.
The ABC reports that the total caught in 2022 was not as high as the 313 crocs caught in 2021, but higher than the totals of 246 and 245 caught in 2020 and 2019 respectively.
However, this year saw 25 crocs caught outside of the ‘management zone’ – which spreads across the Darwin Harbour, Darwin rural areas, parks and reserves and around the towns of Katherine and Borroloola – where there are designated survey and trapping programs.
Crocodile Management Unit ranger Jaylen Marshall told the ABC that, despite hundreds of crocs being captured, there were still over 100,000 out in the wild … and it paid to be cautious.
“Especially this time of year — the monsoon’s kicking in, the heat’s kicking up, the crocs are going to be a lot more active and a lot more cheeky as well, so you’ve got to be wary, especially whenever you are near water,” he said. “With that, I like to say those are the ones that you see, the ones you don’t see are the ones you’ve got to worry about … they’re always lurking!”
Grey Nomad Members now have the opportunity to win six 750ml eco flat bottles of Pinot Grigio (total value of $96) from Banrock Station.
The new eco-flat wine bottle is made entirely from Australian-sourced 100% recycled PET plastic, which is 83% lighter than a glass bottle. The slimmer, flatter profile allows twice as many bottles to fit in a standard wine case.
It’s lighter to carry, takes up less space in your van, is easy to store in your fridge or esky, and is great for life on the road.
* GN Members … Click here to enter
* Haven’t joined yet? Click here to learn about GN member benefits, how to join … and how to win!
