Guilty crocodile tracked down - Australia: Crocodile killed after fatal attack on child
After a fatal crocodile attack on a child in Australia, rangers have killed the responsible animal. The 4.2 meter long reptile was reportedly spotted and shot over the weekend, but only found floating at the water surface yesterday, the Northern Territory Police announced. The authorities confirmed that it was the crocodile that had attacked the 12-year-old girl in a watercourse a week ago.
The girl had been swimming near the Aborigine community Nganmarriyanga when she suddenly disappeared in Mango Creek. The area is about 360 kilometers southwest of Darwin. Immediately, there were fears that she could have become a crocodile victim. After an extensive search operation, response teams discovered remains of the girl on Thursday, two days after the incident.
Two fatal attacks per year
The Northern Territory's chief minister, Eva Lawler, expressed her sympathy to the family in an interview with the Australian ABC. "I'm glad that the large crocodile was found, and hopefully this can provide some relief to the family after this heart-wrenching incident."
According to government figures, there are over 100,000 saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory - more than in any other Australian state. The up to 6 meter long creatures, also known as "Salties," are considered extremely aggressive. In this area, there are also freshwater crocodiles ("Freshies"), which are less dangerous. On average, there are two fatal crocodile attacks per year in the country.
- Upon hearing about the crocodile incident, local authorities in the Northern Territory of Australia decided to increase patrols during weekends to ensure public safety.
- The news of the crocodile attack sparked concern amongst the animal conservation groups in Australia, leading to calls for stricter regulations on crocodile hunting in the region.
- Following the incident, the police in the Northern Territory advised residents to stay away from water bodies and warned about the rising number of crocodile sightings in the area.
