With the first rain having already fallen on this very grateful Katherineite, and more hopefully on its way it is timely to remind ourselves of the need to Be Crocwise.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Many local school students are familiar with the Be Crocwise safety campaign.
The phrases crocs are common, crocs move around and crocs are deadly are heard in classrooms across the region as our kids learn to live within their environment and stay safe.
Crocwise presentations are also a great place to find out how to stay safe while you are fishing, hunting and camping.
As the rains fall, crocodiles find it easier to move around our landscape, making use of swollen watercourses in their search for food, nest sites and mates.
Ecologically speaking salties have an important place in the freshwater rivers and creeks in the Katherine but due to heavy pressure from commercial hunting from the late 1940’s to 1971 their numbers dwindled considerably.
Salties were protected in 1971. Populations have recovered to pre-hunting levels and it’s not unheard of for a croc to pop up somewhere where one hasn’t been seen for many years.
The “Big Rivers” region is home to two species of crocodile. The Freshwater crocodile isn’t thought to be a direct threat to humans.
While it can attack if provoked it will normally feed on small prey such as fish or crustaceans and is not generally attracted to large critters such as ourselves.
Saltwater or Estuarine crocodiles on the other hand, can be aggressive predators, are well adapted to feeding on large prey items, and must be avoided at all costs.
It is important to remember that all crocodiles are skilled ambush predators and use camouflage extensively while hunting. They can be in any part of a river and are as happy to fish in shallow rapids as they are in deep water. A hungry crocodile is able to wait submerged for up to an hour for an animal to approach the water’s edge, using its well-developed senses to seek out prey from some distance away.
This wet season remember to Be Crocwise here in croc country so that we can all continue to enjoy the great Territory lifestyle.
You can book a Be Crocwise presentation for your school or community group by calling Clare Pearce on 8973 8865.
