The biggest crocodile of the year has been trapped near Katherine in outback Northern Territory.
The 3.87 metre saltie was trapped at Donkey Camp on the Katherine River, the second to be trapped there in a week.
Donkey Camp is the location of Katherine Water Treatment Plant’s intake and a popular recreational and boating location for residents.
It is the fifth crocodile to be pulled from local waters so far this year.
With the five saltwater crocs trapped already this year, Katherine is on track to beat its crocodile capture number of six, from the whole of last year.
A smaller, 2.7 metre saltwater crocodile was trapped in the Katherine River early last week.
Northern Territory Wildlife rangers have again warned local people, and visitors, from swimming in local waterways so close to the end of the wet season.
The trap at Donkey Camp has been rebaited in case a third saltie is lurking in its depths.
Rangers again pointed out that the croc would have swum through the Low Level and Knotts Crossing to get to where it was caught.
Rangers removed a 3.1 metre male crocodile in a trap at Leliyn/Edith Falls earlier in the month.
This is the first saltwater crocodile caught in the bottom pools of the Edith falls.
Senior wildlife ranger John Burke today said he saw a group of men swimming with their dogs at the Low Level crossing last week.
“It was a disaster waiting to happen,” ranger Burke said.
The return of the traditional wet season has seen river levels reach 15 metres at downstream Katherine and almost reach minor flood levels at the gorge.
“Last year we caught four or five, but this year with the river levels rising a lot higher, there is a greater chance a lot more salties are around,” ranger Burke said.
“We can’t get to the traps during the wet season to check them, so we start to put the out towards the end, around now.
”There is always going to be crocodiles moving in and out of this area, particularly in the wet season.
Only nine saltwater crocodiles have been taken from Nitmiluk Gorge since 2006.
Two of those were caught this year.
A 3.7m saltie was trapped and removed on February 17 and a second. a 3.4m croc, was trapped on March 24.
To report saltwater crocodile sightings in the Darwin region phone 0419 822 859 or in the Katherine region phone 0407 958 405.
Under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act it is an offence to touch, stand on, enter, move or disturb a Commission crocodile trap.
Doing so may result in a penalty of $7700 or six months in prison.
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
