NICK CALACOURAS

TERRITORIANS are taking “stupid risks” by fishing waist-deep in crocodile infested waters.

Rangers have warned that another Kakadu croc attack is imminent.

Park ranger Gary Lindner said there were reports of a large croc “nudging” boats and getting close to visitors at Cahill’s Crossing, on East Alligator River.

“This unusual behaviour is a sign of a people problem, not a croc problem,” he said.

Two four metre salties were recently caught in the area — but another five have been seen acting aggressively in these areas.

Jabiru storeman Kerry McLoughlin, 40, was decapitated by a five metre croc at this same fishing spot in 1987.

Witnesses reported he threw a can of beer at the croc’s head as it moved to attack him. Mr Lindner said fishermen have become lazy and blase about croc safety.

“People have been caught standing in the water to fish for barra, throwing fish carcasses back along the water line, and fishing late at night without proper croc-spotting lights,” he said.

Mr Lindner said this was dangerous because the crocs were associating the fishermen with food.

“That’s when you get crocs acting inquisitively like this, and we have to come in and modify their behaviour before someone gets hurt,” he said.

Most of these “stupid” fishermen were born and bred Territorians.

Mr Lidner said capturing a croc can be a traumatic experience for the animal — despite the rangers’ best efforts to be humane.

“Once we release the crocs, they generally stay as far away from humans as they can,” he said.

One recently released croc has moved 40km downstream to avoid human contact. But the remaining five crocodiles, between 3.5 and 4.5 metres, remain a danger to fishermen.

“People are too close to crocs now for comfort, and if people fail to take basic safety precautions around the water, it is only a matter of time before an accident or near accident occurs,” he said.

“Crocs are part of the landscape … and if people do the right thing, they are usually not a problem.”

“But when people start attracting them with this sort of thoughtless behaviour, they put everyone in danger.”

Source : Northern Territory News