Alarming scene at popular Aussie tourist spot sparks warning: 'Sick to the stomach'
Pictures taken of an adult and child fishing near the edge of an Australian river known to be home to hungry saltwater crocodiles have sparked a debate online. The anonymous duo were snapped at the infamous Cahills Crossing in Kakadu this week, just metres from signs warning tourists that a fatality occurred nearby.
The images were shared on a social media page popular with 4WD enthusiasts, where some said the pair looked to be at a 'reasonable distance' from the water's edge. 'Doesn't look that bad,' one person said. However others were more cautious, with one saying the image made him feel 'sick to the stomach' with worry.
'What is wrong with people?' another said.
Yahoo spoke to three of Australia's top experts in the predator's behaviour to better understand the dangers involved with navigating crocodile country.
Professional crocodile wrangler Tommy Hayes said while it's hard to tell how close the people in the photograph are to the water's edge, it's good the image sparked debate and that people are aware of the extreme danger the reptiles pose.
'I'm glad people are paying attention, and not shrugging it off,' he said.
Matt Cornish, the co-founder of Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC), warned that the biggest danger to humans is 'complacency'.
'Cahills Crossing is considered to be a high-risk crocodile location where people need to be extremely vigilant,' he told Yahoo. 'We have had crocodile fatalities there over the last couple of decades."
Because the stretch of river where the photograph was taken is also a popular fishing area, there are increased numbers of interactions between crocodiles and humans. Anyone visiting the area needs to ensure their fish are kept away from the water's edge.
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Mick Bender, a licensed reptile handler and educator at Wildlife Unleashed, explained the recommendation is that people keep five metres back from the water's edge.
'That number is based off the strike range of the largest recorded salt water crocodile which was seven metres. Their strike range is half of their body length — that's tip of their nose to the base of their tail — and they can do that in the blink of an eye,' he told Yahoo News.
'So you're looking at a three and a half metre strike range right there. We obviously don't know how big crocs are, so you give yourself that little bit extra.'
Crocodiles are so fast-moving that humans are unable to respond fast enough to move out of the way. Children are at more of a risk because smaller crocodiles will attack them.
Mick warns that travellers also need to be mindful that crocodiles can launch themselves up in the air, towards anyone standing on a bank. This behaviour is often on display during boat trips, when tour guides tempt crocodiles high out of the water using meat attached to a stick.
'In the wild, crocodiles will use that to grab birds or bats flying over the river, that's how fast they are,' he said.
'People don't realise that there's no warning from a crocodile. It's not like you're going to see it coming. They're an ambush attack predator. They rely on being completely hidden and unseen.'
Tommy believes that influencers who work with crocodiles have an important role to play in setting a good example for tourists.
'It's hard when you're battling d**kheads who say don't go near the water and then film themselves jumping in. You've got to lead by example,' he said. 'People see these Aussie larrikins doing it, and they go, 'he did it, so I will too'.'
Tommy has a three-year-old son, who he's educated about the importance of staying away from the water. And he hopes the general public are now getting the message too.
'He's more croc-wise than I am. When we go fishing we're a minimum five metres back,' he said.
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