Four men have been labelled ‘idiots of the century’ after they swam into a baited crocodile trap near the scene of a fatal attack and then smiled for the camera.
Photos have surfaced of the men swimming around the trap at the Port Douglas Marina and then sitting inside it, behind a trap door designed to slam shut if a croc takes the bait. The pictures were taken, not far from where a 79-year-old woman was taken by a 4.3-metre croc two weeks ago.
Douglas Shire Mayor Julie Leu says she’s stunned by the stupidity of the four, and the council didn’t yet know if they were tourists or locals.
“That’s exactly where you might find a crocodile because that’s were the bait is,” she told AAP. “These fellows are vying for the idiots of the century award.”
The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection is investigating and the men could each face fines of $15,000 if convicted of tampering with the trap.
Environment Minister Steven Miles said the men were pictured swimming around the trap, climbing onto it and also venturing inside, where they posed for pictures wearing broad smiles.
“It appears they’ve … swum under a sign that says it’s illegal to tamper with this trap and put themselves literally where we put the bait,” he told the media. “I’ve seen some pretty ridiculous things in my time as environment minister, particularly when it comes to crocodiles, but this one takes the cake.”
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You think some people are idiots and then you get 4 that remove any doubt what so ever.$15,000 is not enough catch em and jail them. Cheers Stevo.
You think some people are idiots and then you get 4 that remove any doubt what so ever.$15,000 is not enough catch em and jail them. Stevo.
leave them there for the crocs