Body of missing child found - killed by crocodile
An Australian family is on holiday in Mango Creek, in the northern part of the country. The twelve-year-old daughter disappeared suddenly while swimming. Several days later, officials found her remains upstream - confirming a grim suspicion.
A missing child in the remote northern Australia is confirmed dead. According to police reports, the twelve-year-old girl was the victim of a crocodile attack. Police spokeswoman Erica Gibson confirmed that rescue teams had recovered the human remains of the girl in the water where she was last seen on Tuesday. "The recovery was successful," she told the Australian broadcaster ABC. The discovery was "extremely gruesome, sad, and devastating."
The girl was on holiday with her family in the area near the Aborigine community of Nganmarriyanga - about 360 kilometers southwest of Darwin. Several family members were swimming in Mango Creek when the girl suddenly disappeared. A crocodile was reportedly sighted in the immediate vicinity shortly afterwards. An extensive search operation for the missing person ensued.
According to Gibson, the discovered remains indicate a crocodile attack. "It was extremely difficult for the rescue teams involved for the past 36 hours," she said. The family is "in a state of extreme shock and disbelief." The tragedy is a stark reminder that there are always crocodiles in the waters of the Northern Territory.
Hours before the discovery, officials had found a T-shirt of the girl. The clothing item was discovered upstream from the spot where the child was last seen. Rescue teams were using boats and a helicopter in their search efforts. Police Minister Brent Potter had already stated on Wednesday that it was unlikely the girl would be found alive.
"Salties" are extremely aggressive
Since crocodiles in Australia were protected in the 1970s, their population in the tropical north of the country has exploded. According to government figures, there are over 100,000 saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory, more than in any other Australian state. Since they can live up to 70 years and continue to grow throughout their lives, the proportion of large individuals has also increased.
These animals, also known as "Salties," are considered extremely aggressive. In this region, there are also freshwater crocodiles ("Freshies"), which are considered less dangerous. On average, there are only two fatal crocodile attacks per year in the entire country. However, in June, members of an Aborigine community in the region had shot and communally consumed a problem crocodile that had previously approached both animals and humans repeatedly.
The tragedy of the missing girl in Australia has been linked to the area's population of saltwater crocodiles, known as "Salties." International news outlets have been following the story closely, highlighting the risks associated with swimming in the region's waters.
