Beware of Crocodiles

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AFP · Reuters · AP






Friday January 2, 10:58 AM
Man-eating croc probably dead

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A crocodile who ate a motorcyclist before Christmas has probably been shot dead, although armed patrols are on the lookout along a flooded outback river just in case.
A large saltwater crocodile was shot dead on Wednesday near where the attack took place and as soon as it bobs to the surface it will be taken to Darwin where its stomach will be cut open.

"The dead crocodile has not yet resurfaced, so wildlife officers and police are continuing to patrol the waterway, waiting," said a spokeswoman with the Northern Territory Parks & Wildlife Service.

"Rangers are confident this is the animal because crocodiles are territorial and it was shot near where the attack took place. Also it is the right size," she said on Friday.

Still, heavily armed police and wildlife officers in boats and helicopters continued to patrol the area.

A four-metre (13-foot) crocodile dragged Brett Mann, 22, to his death on December 21 when he was swept into the flooded Finniss River southwest of Darwin as he tried to wash mud from his body and motorbike.

The crocodile returned a short time later and stalked Mann's two friends for 22 hours as they clung to a tree in the middle of the swollen river.

Saltwater crocodiles are the world's largest reptile, reaching up to seven metres (23 feet) in length and they can weigh more than 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds). There are an estimated 150,000 saltwater crocodiles in northern Australia.

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More on the story.

AFP , Darwin, Australia
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2003,Page 1
The teenage survivors of a crocodile attack in outback Australia told yesterday how they clung to a tree for almost a day while the giant reptile that killed their friend circled beneath them.

Nineteen-year-olds Shaun Blowers and Ashley McGough were riding their quad bikes with Brett Mann on Sunday when they decided to clean themselves off on the banks of the Finnis River, 40km south of the Northern Territory capital Darwin.

Blowers said Mann, 22, slipped into deep water and his companions were trying to help him back to shore when the 4m saltwater crocodile attacked.

"I went past the croc, I didn't see it, Ashley screamed out `croc, croc,' we just swam to the nearest tree and straight up we went," he told reporters.

"We were looking around for Brett [but] didn't hear a thing, didn't hear a scream, no splashing or anything. Two minutes later the croc brought Brett to the surface and pretty much showed him off to us and off he swam."

With the pair still stuck up the tree growing mid-stream in the river, the crocodile returned.

"Five minutes later he was back stalking the tree around us, he just hung around us all night and pretty much all the next morning," Blowers said.

He said they remained perched in the tree for 22 hours, checking on each other through the night to ensure neither had fallen asleep.

Eventually the noise of a police rescue helicopter scared off the crocodile.

The pair were airlifted from the tree and taken to Royal Darwin Hospital and treated for shock and hypothermia.

Blowers said they had not yet come to terms with their ordeal.

Police spokeswoman Erica Sims said police and wildlife officers were searching for the crocodile and Mann's body.

Mann is the eleventh person since 1982 killed by the saltwater crocodiles that infest northern Australian rivers and estuaries.

The most recent victim was a 24-year-old German tourist taking a break in a Northern Territory national park in October last year after surviving the Bali terrorist bombing.
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[The_Veg]

I saw a couple of these crocs at Gatorland in FL last week. The ones I saw were 'only' about 13-15' but I still wouldn't want to take my chances with them.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

I work in the Everglades as a fishing guide and have seen a dead 17 ft croc, and even dead it was quite the experience and frightening to see.
The Everglades has both crocs and aligators living there and when going way back in the creeks and channels you have to make sure you don't end up in the water.
I can't imagine the ordeal these guys went through when their friend was attacked and killed by this animal.
The gators will leave you alone much of the time and may hiss at you before submerging or swimming away, but the crocs are a different story, they will not shy away and YOU need to leave as they are to be respected and left alone for sure.

[Cliffy777]

piss out of me. I have had close encounters with rattlesnakes (and I HATE snakes), but I would rather face a den of rattlers or a pissed off bear than be in the water with a croc or gator.
Lord have mercy.

[Cliffy777]

Did you all see the story where Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin fed a 13 ft croc with his infant son in his arm?
Apparently the authorities think he has gone a bit too far.
What an *******. I always thought he had a screw loose, but endangering oneself is one thing, but to put an infant that close to a croc is unthinkable.
I would post the link to the story, but I ain't bright enough to do so.

[TheSlashFiveTourer]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/01/02/australia.crocodileman/index.html

CRIKEY ! ! Not too bright, Mate ! ! :yow

[kbasa]

The Ozzie Michael Jackson?

http://www.itv.com/news/images/michael_jackson_baby_sm.jpg

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Yep, that guy has more than a few screws missing. I know he has a lot of experience but to put a little tyke in harms way means to me that the elevator got stuck between the floors.:dunno
What he did is completely irresponsible no matter what the "experience".:yow
These things are reptiles and have no brainpower to speak of, just instinct and that means eating as much and as frequently as possible including "snack size" people.

[lorazepam]

He should be a real daredevil and put a rope on the little tyke's ankle and swing him around the croc's head. Or maybe drag him really fast past a whole herd of the reptiles. I bet that would make him want to be just like daddy.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Like your artistic work.
:lol :lol :lol :lol :rofl

[TheSlashFiveTourer]

CRIKEY, MATES! !

Steve-O's gonna make "Australian of The Year" after this caper!!

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8325289%255E1702,00.html

[Cliffy777]

RE: Iriwn still up for Aussie of the Year.

At least we let people in this country suffer after they screw up:

1. Teddy Kennedy has only been re-elected 52 times since the unfortunate swimming thing.

2. Arnold was elected even though......

3. The Great White Crusader Strom Thurmond remained in power despite most of his state knowing he fathered a child with a young black lady.......

4. Not to mention the 469 celibate priests with active sex lives.

5. How about the reporter for the NY Times who made all that crap up in his stories and THEN wrote a book about his plagarism and people actually bought the book?

Those bloody Aussies ought to learn how to really let people have it like we do over here.

[The_Veg]

I find Irwin to be about the most annoying person I've ever seen on the tube. I really dug that FedEx ad in which he got bit by the venomous snake!
My brother visited the Australia Zoo earlier this year and was quite relieved that Irwin wasn't in that day.

[Cliffy777]

Might not amount to a hill of beans, but I went to Discovery.com and got to their viewer relations. Sent them an email encouraging them to pull the Croc Hunter. Told them I will never again tune in to any of his programs on their network.

[jgr451]

Originally posted by SlashFiveTourer
CRIKEY, MATES! !

Steve-O's gonna make "Australian of The Year" after this caper!!

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8325289%255E1702,00.html

Babies make great croc bait!!

Remember when the dingo ate her baby?