15/04/2005 - On Wednesday
13 April, rangers removed a 3.5 metre male
saltwater crocodile from the Maguk (Barramundie
Gorge), creek in Kakadu National Park.
The crocodile was captured two days after
baited traps were set in the popular swimming
area.
"In the past three weeks, rangers have
begun surveying swimming holes, rivers and
creeks to prepare for Kakadu's opening in
the dry season," Environment and Heritage
Parliamentary Secretary Greg Hunt said.
"It's all part of Kakadu's Crocodile
Management Strategy, which balances the protection
of magnificent wildlife with visitor safety."
The expert behind crocodile management in
Kakadu is ranger Garry Lindner. After twenty
years, he's renowned around the Territory
for his understanding of crocodiles and their
behaviour.
"At this time of year after the wet,
managing the crocs is a huge job for us,"
Garry Lindner said.
"We go up in helicopters to survey the
waterways and our district rangers walk the
ground they can get to by day and lay out
crocodile detection buoys and baited traps.
"At night we go out in teams of two
or three, looking for tracks on river banks
and hunting for the crocs' distinctive aroma.
We often find them from the boat when our
spotlights catch the shining red of their
eyes.
"Freshies are generally shy of people
and harmless unless they are annoyed or visitors
provoke them. Where we find an inquisitive
or aggressive freshie we may relocate it,
or tag it and monitor its behaviour.
"But we have growing numbers of saltwater
crocodiles moving further and further upstream
- and large crocodiles are dangerous to humans.
Under the park's Crocodile Management Strategy,
we remove salties from locations where swimming
is allowed and where visitor safety is threatened.
"We come back and check the buoys and
traps throughout the season.
"Kakadu is crocodile country," Garry
Lindner said.
"If you're boating, fishing, walking
or camping - please obey the crocodile warning
signs. Crocs are a vital part of this fantastic
World Heritage Area."
