Locals swimming in the Katherine River are sending the wrong croc wise message to tourists.
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Just today a 3.4m male saltwater crocodile was trapped at Galloping Jacks, 20km downstream of Katherine.
While rangers showed off the croc as a warning at the Low Level Bridge, a Katherine family was swimming nearby.
Parks and Wildlife ranger Erin Britton said despite a rise in recent crocodile sightings tourists and locals are still taking the risk.
“People think they can trust local knowledge, they think they can get away with it if there are other people swimming,” ranger Britton said.
“But that is just a false sense of security,” she said.
Tourists from Germany Mayr and Rasidea Gunther said it is pretty common for tourists to assume waterways are safe if others are swimming.
“We thought they knew what they were doing,” Mr Gunther said.
“There is a sign but it is not enough to stop people swimming,” he said.
Crocodiles are moving closer to town and captures in the region are on the rise.
Recently Katherine’s biggest ever croc was captured.
“In estuaries where there are a lot of fish crocodiles are happy to stay, but in these marginal habitats there is less food,” ranger Britton said.
“We are seeing crocodiles moving up here from their favorite places in search of food.
“If he is a hungry croc he’ll take any risk for his survival,” she said.
The Katherine family of three, who wished to remain anonymous, who were swimming at the Low Level Bridge said they have lived in the area for 30 years.
With a small child, they said they were happy swimming in the shallow parts of the river when it is clear.
“We know a lot of people who swim here, which makes us feel safer,” the mother said.
“If we are swimming and other people follow us it is at their own risk,” she said.
This latest crocodile capture brings the tally up to 16 for the year.
A record number of saltwater crocodiles have been trapped in the river system, and swimmers are still being spotted risking their lives for a cool down.
NT Parks and Wildlife senior ranger John Burke says Katherine’s salties are still hungry despite the chilly, dry season weather.
