Another large male saltwater crocodile has been trapped downstream in the Katherine River – and another spotted next to town.
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On the weekend a 3.4 metre male saltie was captured near the Northern Territory outback town to again spark fears for public safety.
A record number of saltwater crocodiles have been trapped in the river system this year.
NT Parks and Wildlife senior ranger John Burke says Katherine’s salties are still hungry despite the chilly, dry season weather.
The large male was pulled out at Flora Nature Park, about 100km south-west of Katherine.
Also, a large croc has been spotted by a local resident in Katherine itself, late last week.
This latest croc is at Donkey Camp and is estimated to be around about four metres long.
Resident Chris Whiting said he was amazed to see such a large croc at this time of year.
“You normally don’t actually see crocs in the river, but this one was proudly parading itself,” Mr Whiting said.
“It just cruised past me as I was pumping water on the back of my block.
“I think he knew I was watching him.”
Mr Whiting said the crocodile was only 30 metres away from him on his property just a few kilometres upstream from Donkey Camp weir, a popular fishing spot.
“I think this year, on the back of the big wet season, you can’t be sure what has moved up.
“I imagine there seems to be a lot of activity in the river.
“At the end of the day it makes you think twice about going out fishing in your ten-foot tinny,” he said.
Ranger Burke said it is a common belief crocs go “off the bite” during the colder months.
But the notable amount of crocodile captures, so far this year, tell a different story.
The two captures, the one at Flora on the weekend, and the record croc from Taylors Park boat ramp the week before, are from same general region.
“It is a belief that when it is cold crocs go off the bite, but this year we have been catching them fairly consistently,” ranger Burke said.
“Usually, their metabolism slows down in the cold weather and they don’t hit up the traps, but the crocs are still hungry,” he said.
“People need to be croc wise and stay out of the river.”
NT Parks and Wildlife’s most recent croc capture brings the tally to almost 200 across the Top End this year.
“Even though the weather has been cold the crocs are still moving about,” ranger Burke said.
NT Parks and Wildlife are urging Katherine residents to get in touch if they spot a saltie.
“Our croc removal program is about team work,” ranger Burke said.
“We rely heavily on the community to report on sightings,” he said.
Crocodile sightings in Katherine can be reported to 0407958405.
