Increase in number of saltwater crocodiles

I can't believe how big they are. I remember seeing a doco about some island they go to in the Arafura Sea. I reckon wherever you let them go they would eventually find their way back. A couple of hundred purses, wallets and belts is the answer to these rogue monsters. Not freedom.





Increase in number of saltwater crocodiles removed from Northern Territory waterways

By Lorna Perry
Posted about an hour agoWed 31 Dec 2014, 6:19pm
PHOTO: A problem crocodile caught in the Daly River in the Northern Territory.(Supplied: NT Parks and Wildlife)
MAP: Darwin 0800
More dangerous saltwater crocodiles have been caught in the Northern Territory in 2014 compared to last year, but the total figure was short of breaking the record.
A total of 287 crocodiles were caught this year, 31 fewer than the record.
Parks and Wildlife Commission ranger Tom Nichols said the number included 264 from the Darwin region and 16 from the Katherine region.
PHOTO: A ranger with a problem crocodile caught in the Daly River.(Supplied: NT Parks and Wildlife)

"This year's total is a significant increase on last year's tally of 226 and close to the 2012 record of 318," he said.
Rangers have pulled an average of five crocodiles out of Northern Territory waterways each week.
The biggest catch was a 4.75-metre problem crocodile who had developed a taste for dogs in an Aboriginal community at Daly River.
"He was probably one of the fattest ones I've seen for a while, he turned around in the trap but had a lot of trouble turning around, so he was basically pushing the sides of the trap out a bit when he did turn so he was in good condition," Mr Nichols said.
Mr Nichols said crocodile numbers had been up and down for the past four years, but appeared to be levelling out.
2014 was the deadliest on record for crocodile attacks in the Top End, with four deaths.
"During the dry season, yes the numbers do drop off, sightings get a little bit lower, but the thing is they're still there, still around and people have just got to remember to be croc-wise and think safety all the time and still enjoy our waterways," he said.
Mr Nichols said he hoped 2015 would set the record for no fatalities.
PHOTO: A problem crocodile which had acquired a taste for dogs was removed from the Daly River. (Supplied: NT Parks and Wildlife)

Topics: crocodile, animal-attacks, darwin-0800, daly-river-0822


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-...-saltwater-crocs-removed-nt-waterways/5995010