Traveling Australia and Croc Safety
As we make our way around this beautiful country, we visit a lot of places that are home to the potentially dangerous and deadly salt water crocodile. There are a few basic principals that we follow on our travels to attempt to keep ourselves safe. We meet a lot of people that are terrified of the prospect of camping near water where crocs live. Particularly families. Usually it’s the mum worried about the kids
Which is understandable I suppose.
We spend a lot of time in the Northern Territory. The entire dry season for the last 3 years. While we are in the Territory we stay at a place called King Ash Bay. It’s a fishing club on the banks of the McArthur River. As I look over my left shoulder to the river right now, I can’t see any crocs, but I know they are there. I’ve seen hundreds of them here. But that’s no reason to fear them.
They simply have to be respected.
Crocodiles have been around for millions of years. They are patient and cunning hunters with incredible survival abilities. They deserve the respect.
Here are some big no-no’s. All of which I have witnessed people do here.
- Standing in waste deep water to throw the cast net.
Particularly if there is a big drop-off into deeper water. You will not see a crocodile coming.I do go into the water to throw the cast net. But I’ll only go in ankle deep and on a shallow mud or sand flat where I can see the water clearly for a distance of 10 or 20 metres away from me. Crocodiles are very fast and you don’t need to be near one. - Dumping of fish scraps near camp.
Crocs will travel a long way on land to get your fish scraps. Recently I traveled to Wiyibi Fishing and Wilderness Lodge on North Island. There was a fish cleaning table setup and people had left fish frames there overnight. In the morning the fish frames were gone and there were crocodile tracks walking up and back from the water, which is about 100 metres away!Basically don’t give them a reason to want to come near your camp. - Dogs.
Crocs eat dogs. That’s a fact. We have two poochies, and we don’t let them anywhere near water anywhere in the Northern Territory. Every year we hear stories of people that have lost dogs to crocs. If your dog goes for a swim it might be lucky enough to survive the first couple of times. But crocodiles are creatures of habit. They will recognize patterns and will know where your dog enters the water to swim. - Swimming.
This one is so obvious, but people seriously go swimming here! Incredible isn’t it?! Once bloke went for a swim to wash his hair and had a machete in one hand. If you want to go swimming, head South.
The single biggest bit of advise I can give is ALWAYS BE MINDFUL. Weather you are throwing the cast net or washing your hand over the side of the boat. Always assume a croc is nearby. Treat them with the respect they deserve.