Search in Australia - T-shirt discovery fuels concerns: crocodile allegedly killed child
In the search for a missing child in Northern Australia, law enforcement officials have found a T-Shirt of the twelve-year-old. The authorities believe that the girl was attacked by a crocodile. The clothing piece was found upstream from the spot where the child was last seen on Tuesday, reported the Australian broadcaster ABC, citing the police.
The search in a remote region of the Northern Territory is ongoing. Officials are using boats and a helicopter along Mango Creek. Police Minister Brent Potter had previously stated that there was probably no hope of finding the girl alive and that talk of a recovery mission could now begin. The family and friends of the missing child are "completely desperate," said Police spokesperson Erica Gibson.
According to the ABC report, the family was on holiday in the area near the Aborigine community of Nganmarriyanga and were in the water when the child suddenly disappeared. A crocodile was reportedly seen in the vicinity shortly afterwards.
Salties and Freshies
According to government figures, there are over 100,000 saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory - more than in any other state in Australia. These animals, 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 in the country every year. In June, members of an Aborigine community in the region shot and communally consumed a problem crocodile that had previously approached both animals and humans.
- The operational force, comprising police and search and rescue teams, is intensifying efforts to locate the missing child in the Crocodile-infested waters of the Northern Territory.
- The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) reported that the Northern Territory government is planning to increase its operational force to tackle the growing issue of aggressive Saltwater crocodiles ("Salties") in the region.
- Emergency services have issued warnings to tourists and locals alike about the dangers of swimming in the waters of the Northern Territory, due to the high number of crocodiles, particularly the aggressive Saltwater crocodiles.
- The Northern Territory government has announced plans to relocate some of the 100,000 Saltwater crocodiles ("Salties") in the region to controlled environments, in an attempt to reduce the risk of animal-human conflicts and fatal emergencies.
