Crocodile attack - Child in Australia probably killed by crocodile - search underway
In the northern part of Australia, the search is ongoing for a twelve-year-old child who is likely to have been attacked by a crocodile. Australian authorities now believe there is no hope left for finding the child alive. "We can certainly say that we are in the recovery phase," quoted Australian media Police Minister Brent Potter.
The child was last seen on a Tuesday afternoon, swimming in a waterway called Mango Creek, approximately 350 kilometers southwest of Darwin. Initially, reports suggested the victim was a girl, but media and authorities have since confirmed the gender.
Searching in crocodile-infested waters
Potter referred to the incident as a "tragic event" and emphasized it was devastating for a family to lose a child under such circumstances. The response teams were tasked with locating the crocodile and removing it from the water to recover the child: "These officers are trained divers and go into crocodile-infested waters when necessary."
The officers were using boats and searching a large section of Mango Creek near the Aborigine community of Nganmarriyanga. Police spokesperson Erica Gibson stated: "Our thoughts are with the family and the community."
Two fatal attacks per year
Both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles inhabit the region. Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow up to six meters long, are considered much more dangerous and extremely aggressive. Freshwater crocodiles, referred to as "Freshies," which are up to three meters long, only attack humans when they feel threatened. However, these attacks are usually not fatal.
The Northern Territory Government reports that 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 Aborigine 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
- The search for the missing child in the Northern Territory of Australia has taken place in areas known to be inhabited by crocodiles, increasing the urgency and complexity of the operation.
- Despite the ongoing efforts to locate the missing child, the Northern Territory has a history of crocodile attacks, with an average of two fatal attacks reported annually.
- The Northern Territory Government has implemented measures to manage the population of crocodiles in the region, including allowing local communities to remove potentially dangerous crocodiles when necessary.
