A crocodile caused fear in an Australian community, prompting locals to capture and consume the reptile.
On a Wednesday in the Australian town of Bulla, located in the Northern Territory, authorities shot a crocodile due to its perceived threat to the community. This animal was considered dangerous as it had been observed stalking and lunging from the water towards both children and adults, as well as taking several dogs from the area, according to a statement released by the police. In a thoughtful effort to reuse resources, the authorities made plans to have the crocodile prepared for a communal meal in the traditional fashion. However, before the feast, they seized the chance to educate local children about crocodile safety with a session featuring a close-up view of potential dangers found in their local waters.
Sergeant Andrew McBride of the Northern Territory Police explained their actions to the public broadcaster ABC, revealing that the animal was cooked into crocodile tail soup and grilled on a barbecue. Other portions were wrapped in banana leaves and cooked under the ground, resulting in a substantial amount of food, with many satisfied stomachs.
Both the saltwater and freshwater crocodile species are safeguarded under Australian law, as hunting them has been prohibited since 1971 when they were on the brink of extinction due to poaching. Since then, the number of crocodiles in the Northern Territory has increased to approximately 100,000, and more can be found across neighboring states of Queensland and Western Australia.
Kristen Hay, a wildlife specialist from the local government, cautioned that any water body in the Northern Territory, affectionately known as 'The Top End,' might contain aggressive and potentially deadly crocodiles. She added that saltwater crocodiles can reach up to six meters in length, weigh up to one ton, and consume almost anything they come across, thereby making their interactions with humans potentially hazardous.
Annually, park rangers in northern Australia eliminate hundreds of crocodiles from populated areas. In April, a 16-year-old boy lost his life to a crocodile when he tried swimming to the shore after his boat malfunctioned in northern Queensland. In 2020, officials retrieved the remains of a 64-year-old fisherman from inside a different crocodile in the same area. A nine-year-old boy also managed to escape a deadly crocodile attack at the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park in January, having been hospitalized due to puncture wounds.
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In light of the increased crocodile population, many Australians are planning their travels with caution, considering the potential dangers in local water bodies. After the crocodile incident in Bulla, a communal meal was organized to make use of the captured animal, showcasing various cooking methods such as barbecuing and wrapping in banana leaves.
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