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On Monday, officials in Australia eradicated a large crocodile believed to be responsible for the country’s second fatal crocodile attack within the past month.
The recent incident involved a 40-year-old man from New South Wales who was fatally attacked while on a fishing trip with his family in Queensland. The man reportedly fell into the Annan River near Cooktown, an area known for its crocodile population, when the riverbank under him gave way. Authorities have yet to recover his body.
Local Cooktown resident, Bart Harrison, described the riverbank where the accident occurred as very steep, acknowledging the presence of large crocodiles that locals typically avoid.
Daniel Guymer, a government conservation officer, mentioned that the crocodile suspected in the attack was identified and located around 2.5 miles from the site. It was notable for a distinctive scar on its snout.
“After spotting the animal near Crocodile Bend, wildlife officers euthanized a 16-foot crocodile believed to have carried out the attack,” Guymer explained. He confirmed the identification was based on snout markings.
This tragedy follows the death of a 12-year-old girl earlier in the month, who was taken by a crocodile while swimming with her family in Northern Territory. After this event, authorities killed a 14-foot crocodile believed responsible for her death.
Australia is facing a significant number of crocodile attacks this year, nearing the record death toll of four set in 2014. With the current count at three, including an incident in April where a 16-year-old was killed off a Queensland island, concerns about crocodile management are mounting.
Brandon Sideleau, a crocodile expert from Charles Darwin University, noted the presence of multiple large crocodiles in the area, attributing this to illegal feeding practices involving road kill, which has caused crocodiles to associate humans with food.
Since crocodiles were placed under protection in the 1970s, their numbers have considerably increased in Australia’s north. Despite fluctuations in annual attack statistics, Sideleau emphasized that all crocodile attacks could be avoided with adequate precautions.
Following the release of a social media video showing crocodile feeding, Government officials reiterated the dangers of such actions. Guymer stressed the illegality of feeding dangerous wildlife in Queensland, highlighting the hefty fines associated with such behavior.
After the recent fatal attacks, authorities in the Northern Territory have been reconsidering their crocodile management strategies, emphasizing the importance of avoiding waterways inhabited by crocodiles.
The government’s ongoing challenge is underscored by periodic dangerous encounters between crocodiles and residents. Police recently had to dispatch a saltwater crocodile in a remote community after it posed a significant threat. Additionally, incidents in Queensland where locals faced crocodile threats underscore the broader issue of cohabitation between humans and these predatory reptiles in Australia.