Beloved 5m croc ‘Big John' found decapitated in net in Queensland
Big John, who measured between four to five metres long and was distinguishable by his missing tail tip, was found dead in a fishing net in Yarrabah Bay, a remote community a 55km drive from Cairns, on July 30.
The local legend – that had been monitored by Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji (GMY) Rangers for over four years – was affectionately referred to as the 'Crocodile Casanova of Buddbadoo' as he was often seen basking in the sun with three female crocodiles in the Buddabadoo (Yarrabah) creek system.
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) told news.com.au it was investigating the matter.
'Anyone with information can provide it anonymously by calling 1300 130 372 or by completing a wildlife complaint form via the DETSI website,' it said.
In Queensland, possessing crocodile body parts without a permit is illegal and the maximum penalty for illegally killing an estuarine crocodile is $37,552.
A Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation spokeswoman told the Cairns Post it was assisting DETSI with the investigation, noting the crocodile had not become entangled in an abandoned net.
'We can confirm the net wasn't a ghost net,' she said.
Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) announced Big John's death in heartfelt post on social media last week, paying tribute to the 'Icon of Buddabadoo'.
'With heavy hearts, we share the loss of an ancient and iconic presence — Big John, the saltwater crocodile who has watched over Buddabadoo for many years,' the post read.
'Big John was more than a crocodile. He was a guardian of our waterways, a link to our ancestral knowledge, and a living reminder of why we protect and care for our land and sea country.'
'Words can't express the sadness we feel at his passing,' GAC added, sharing a poem about the crocodile.
Other locals expressed sadness over the shock death, suggesting the croc should be honoured in a statue or children's book.
'Very sad, should put a statue or monument in honour of the big fella down there … Sorry for your loss rangers,' one person wrote.
'Sorry guys for your loss, what a legend Big John was,' said another.
'A devastating loss. I.think GMY should make a book about Big John … a kids book with that beautiful poem at the heart and a story of legacy, icons and Country,' another suggested.
Car runs over crocodile at infamous crossing
The investigation comes after horrifying footage went viral last week of a ute driving over a crocodile at an infamous crocodile-infested river crossing in the Northern Territory.
In the footage, a black ute could be seen making its way through Cahill's Crossing when a large crocodile surfaced from underneath its back wheel. The reptile appeared to be stuck as it is dragged by the car, with its mouth hanging agape.
Sensing something was wrong, the ute then attempted to reverse, freeing the animal from underneath its wheels before placing the car in drive and running over the lower half of its body again.
Matteo Mastratisi, who captured the wild moment on video, told news.com.au that it was 'definitely unintentional.'
'It wasn't the driver's fault. You couldn't see the croc until he went over it and he couldn't stop the car in the middle of the crossing either,' he said.
Mr Mastratisi believed the got away largely unscathed.
Situated within the Kakadu National Park, the river is home to over 10,000 known crocodiles. According to the park's website, there are around five to nine crocs per kilometre.
Weighing in on the viral incident, Calare MP Andrew Gee asked Maverick MP Bob Katter if Australia should feel sympathy for the crocodile, in a sit down video shared on social media over the weekend.
'I have to say Bob, I felt sympathy for the croc and I was glad to see the croc swim away from ute,' Mr Gee said, before asking Mr Katter if the nation should feel the same.
'I think that you people are sympathetic to crocodiles,' Mr Katter replied.
'I strongly advocate and I think everyone respects your affection and I think you should get close to crocodiles, you know a lot closer to crocodiles,' he said cheekily with a pause and a grin.
Mr Gee asked: 'So I think from all of that, we've worked out Bob that it is OK to have sympathy for the croc?'
'If you're with them,' he said. 'You know, I love my dog and I put my arm around him and that sort of thing and you know, if you love crocodiles, I think you should do that sort of thing,' he replied with a smile, before breaking out into song.
'Never smile at a crocodile,' he sang.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
10 minutes ago
- ABC News
Man charged with supplying nitazene-laced vape liquid in Australian first
A Sydney man is the first person in Australia to be charged with supplying potentially lethal nitazene-laced vape liquid that police call a "disturbing evolution" in the illicit drug trade. Following an investigation, NSW Police allegedly uncovered evidence that the 20-year-old man had been running a sophisticated illicit drug distribution model to facilitate the supply of the nitazene in vape liquid vials between March and July this year. On Friday, detectives raided a property in Revesby in Sydney's south where they allegedly located electronics, vape hardware, vials and more than $7,000 in cash. Police said they also seized two imitation firearms, an electrical weapon and a safe, which they were unable to open at the property. Officers later cracked into the safe where they allegedly found a further 1.8 kilograms of nitazene, bringing the total amount of the drugs seized to 2.1kg. A man was arrested at the property and charged with supplying prohibited drug in a commercial quantity and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime. Police allege the man was involved in the sale, preparation, and distribution of the vials, which were marketed as "supercharged". In a statement, Drug and Firearms Squad commander Detective Superintendent John Watson said nitazenes were highly addictive and could be lethal. "By lacing vape liquid with these synthetic opioids, suppliers are deliberately creating dependency, hooking users to ensure repeat business," Superintendent Watson said. Superintendent Watson said this Australian first demonstrated a "disturbing evolution of the illicit drug trade". According to NSW Health, nitazenes are extremely potent synthetic opioids which are more likely to decrease or stop breathing than other opioids. Authorities said the drugs could be hundreds of times more potent than heroin and could cause severe overdose or death. Addiction specialist Hester Wilson warned about the dangers of synthetic opioids. "Opioid overdose symptoms can include pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slow breathing/snoring or skin turning blue or grey," Dr Wilson said. "It is strongly recommended that anyone who uses any recreational drugs carry naloxone … a lifesaving measure which can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, including from nitazenes."
ABC News
10 minutes ago
- ABC News
Police working to establish casualties after van crushed under truck in crash at Ravenhall
An unknown number of people are stuck inside a van that crashed into a truck in Melbourne's west on Wednesday. Emergency services responded to reports of a collision on Fuller Road, Ravenhall, about 20 kilometres west of the CBD, just before 8am. Footage showed the front half of a delivery van crushed under the back of a semi-trailer. Police said the truck was parked when the van collided into it. "The exact circumstances surrounding the collision, including the number of occupants and extent of their injuries, are yet to be established and an investigation is ongoing," a statement from Victoria Police said. The van remains trapped under the trailer and police are working to determine how many people are inside. No deaths have been confirmed. Crews from Fire Rescue Victoria, Ambulance Victoria, and the State Emergency Service also responded to the incident. An investigation is ongoing.
ABC News
10 minutes ago
- ABC News
Snowtown murderer James Vlassakis parole review yet to be decided, police commissioner says
South Australia's Police Commissioner says he will speak with Major Crime detectives before deciding if he will seek a review of the decision to grant Snowtown murderer James Vlassakis parole. The SA Parole Board on Tuesday granted parole to the youngest of the four perpetrators involved in the "bodies-in-the-barrels" serial killings between 1992 and 1999. Vlassakis was sentenced to life, but because he helped authorities the court handed down a non-parole period of 26 years that ended in May. SA's Attorney-General, the Victims' Rights Commissioner and SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens have 60 days to request a review to the parole board's decision. Mr Stevens told ABC Radio Adelaide he had not yet decided whether he would seek a review, but said he would consider the matter once he had had a chance to examine the parole board's decision. "I haven't seen the basis for the decision of the parole board at this stage … and we'll have a look at how that aligns to any prior advice that we've given to the parole board in the lead-up to this parole board hearing," he said. "On the basis of that … I will make a decision as to whether there's something I'll do, in terms of what I'm able to do under the Correctional Services Act." Mr Stevens said public safety was a major factor among "a range of considerations" that would determine whether he would seek a review. "Major Crime Investigation Branch have a significant stake in this, and they also have the connection with families and other interested stakeholders," he said. "I've already spoken to the head of Major Crime, Superintendent Darren Fielke — he's waiting for that report from the parole board. "That would be the first point for us to start working through a process that'll lead to a determination." The Commissioner for Victims' Rights, Sarah Quick, told ABC News Breakfast she could not reveal if she would seek a review of the decision to grant Vlassakis parole. "There are very strict confidentiality requirements around the review process, so none of us are at liberty to disclose whether we will or won't lodge a request for a review of that decision, so I really can't comment," Ms Quick said. She said responses from the loved ones of the Snowtown victims to the parole decision had varied. "Certainly knowing that [Vlassakis] is subject to conditions for the rest of his life does bring them some sense of security." She said the crime continued to have an impact on victims. "I think we tend to overlook that in our desire for true crime stories and the details of crime," she said. "We tend to overlook the impact on victims and their families, and it is really important to understand that every media report does trigger victims, triggers their grief and their trauma." SA Parole Board chair Frances Nelson KC said a review could be requested by authorities to check whether the board had erred in its decision-making. "They can seek that the parole review commissioner Michael David KC review our decision," she said. "That doesn't entitle him to impose his own views but simply to see if we've made an error in the process." She said she understood why victims might not want Vlassakis, whose image remains suppressed, released into the community, but the parole board could not impose further sentence on an offender. "We can only look at what our role is. Is he suitable for parole, having regard to the legislative criteria? And he is," she said. Ms Nelson said the board had "very carefully" considered the potential risk to community safety. "He wouldn't be released directly into the community — we never release life sentence prisoners directly into the community," she said. "Apart from anything else, the world has changed a lot in the last 26 years. I doubt he even knows how to operate a mobile phone." Ms Nelson said Vlassakis would enter a pre-release centre where he would be introduced to "a very careful resocialisation program" and have psychological counselling. She said Vlassakis, whose behaviour in prison had been "exemplary", would have "family support" as well as parole conditions for life. "There are some geographic exclusion zones which the victims have requested — we raised that with him and he volunteered that the last thing he wants to do inadvertently [is] to run into one of the victims' families," Ms Nelson said. "He wants to work. He appreciates it would be very difficult for him to get employment with his history. "He faces a number of challenges, including the media [which] would be fairly intrusive — and that's actually a good thing because if people think the door will open and everything will be rosy, they are heading for disappointment. But I think he's thought through the difficulties that he will face."
