12-year-old girl in Australia probably killed by crocodile

Crocodile attack - 12-year-old girl in Australia probably killed by crocodile

In the tropical north of Australia, law enforcement officers are frantically searching for a 12-year-old girl who was likely attacked by a crocodile. The girl was last seen in the afternoon on a Tuesday, as she swam in a waterway called Mango Creek, approximately 350 kilometers southwest of Darwin, according to Australian media, citing the police.

The investigators believe that the girl was attacked and killed by a crocodile. "Our thoughts are with the family and the community," said Police Sergeant Erica Gibson. Officers and locals were deployed in boats and searching a large section of the waterway near the Aboriginal community of Nganmarriyanga, it was reported.

Two fatal attacks per year

Both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles inhabit this region. Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow up to six meters long, are considered much more dangerous and extremely aggressive. Freshwater crocodiles, which are up to three meters long and are commonly referred to as "Freshies," attack humans only when they feel threatened. However, these attacks are usually not fatal.

According to the Northern Territory Government, there are over 100,000 crocodiles in the region. On average, there are two fatal crocodile attacks per year in all of Australia. In June, members of an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory shot and communally consumed a "problem crocodile" that had previously approached both animals and humans.

Northern Territory Government on Crocodiles

1. The search for the missing girl is taking place in the Northern Territory, a region known for its high crocodile population.
2. Despite the operational force deployed, the risk of crocodile attacks during emergencies remains a concern in Australia's Northern Territory.
3. The Northern Territory Government encourages residents and tourists to be cautious around waterways due to the presence of dangerous saltwater crocodiles.
4. Following the latest fatal crocodile attack, there have been calls for stricter crocodile management policies in the Northern Territory.

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