Latest news with #crocodile
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Crocodile drags grandfather to his death before parading body in its jaws
Warning: Confronting footage. Horrifying footage has emerged of the moment an Indonesian grandfather was mauled to death by a crocodile and paraded around in front of horrified villagers. The man, known only as Wasim, was reportedly washing himself in the river just moments before the over three-metre-long croc lunged from the shallows of the Semaka River in Lampung. The 80-year-old was unable to shout for help as he was yanked beneath the surface on Monday afternoon. He was discovered missing when another villager Yusron, 40, found his clothes on the riverbank. Chilling footage shows the crocodile swimming away with the man in its mouth as onlookers armed with sticks and rocks bravely chased it from the riverbanks. Semaka Police Chief AKP Sutarto told local media: 'The victim was found within an hour or at 13.00 WIB, after the crocodile emerged carrying him in its mouth. 'After being struck several times, the crocodile finally released the victim's body. But when recovered, he was already in a lifeless state.' Police further revealed that Wasim had suffered jagged wounds on his back and shoulders. Wasim's devastated son-in-law also fronted local media, telling them: 'It was just a normal day for us. We didn't expect it to end tragically like this.' Indonesia has the most crocodile attacks in the world, with the Indonesian archipelago home to 14 species of crocodiles. There were at least 1,000 incidents over the past decade, though many more are believed to have gone unreported. Just last year, an Indonesian grandfather was savagely mauled to death by a crocodile while going for a swim just metres from his home. M Yunus, 68, was in the Peureulak River on August 29 when the beast ripped him in half, leaving just his clothes and phone behind. Rescuers worked tirelessly to scour the river until the next day, when they found his body drifting downstream around a mile from where his clothes were recovered. He was thought to have been caught in a wooden branch and was tragically left without his upper body. His remains – only half of his body – were taken home for a funeral, but his upper body, head and arms were never found. Conservationists believe that crocodiles have been driven further inland, closer to villages due to overfishing, resorting in reduction of food supplies and habitat loss. Widespread tin mining has also led to villagers encroaching on the crocodiles' natural habitats, pushing the reptiles towards busy towns and villages. With locals still using rivers for bathing and primitive fishing, police have continued to urge residents to exercise caution and vigilance.
ABC News
2 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Wildlife rangers euthanase crocodile seen on Mary River
Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers say they have "humanely euthanased" a crocodile on Queensland's Fraser Coast. The 3-metre long estuarine saltwater crocodile was first seen by a council employee in the Mary River near Maryborough, three hours north of Brisbane, last week. Crocodile management teams Rockhampton and Townsville were then dispatched to catch the animal. But after a seven-day hunt the Department of Environment said the crocodile had been euthanased on the banks of the Mary at Dundathu, downriver of Maryborough, "due to the ongoing public safety risk". The crocodile was at least 200 kilometres south of its typical habitat in central and northern Queensland. Rangers say its location could have been caused by weather conditions, territorial disputes, or the crocodile travelling on river currents. The department encouraged crocodile sightings to be reported via the QWildlife app or to the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning issued over popular Aussie swimming spot: 'Stay away'
Swimmers have been warned to steer clear of a popular Northern Territory swimming spot following multiple reported sightings of a crocodile. Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife shared an update this week advising of a 'Site Closure' at Bitter Springs following unconfirmed reports about the presence of a crocodile in the area. A Facebook update shared this week to the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife saw the government body confirm that 'the waterhole will be closed' until the area is inspected by rangers. 'NT Parks and Wildlife has received multiple unconfirmed sightings today of a crocodile at Bitter Springs,' read the post. 'As per the Crocodile Risk Management Plan the waterhole will be closed while rangers conduct surveys of the site.' The cautionary post added that it was 'currently unknown if it is a freshwater or saltwater crocodile' that's been seen at Bitter Springs, but added that it's 'believed to be approximately 2 metres' in size. Located within Elsey National Park, Bitter Springs is one of two natural thermal pools where the water is warm all year round. The latest update from the parks and wildlife department offered national park visitors an alternative swimming location. 'The nearby Mataranka Thermal Pool is still open for swimming,' read the post. The full listing about the temporary closure appears on the Northern Territory Government information and services website. It added that Bitter Springs is currently 'forecast' to re-open on 29 June 2025, pending the upcoming ranger inspection. Comments were filled with responses from startled swimmers who'd only recently bathed at Bitter Springs. 'I was only swimming here yesterday. Omg,' said one commenter. 'Oh dear, we were there yesterday. Back in Darwin now, all limbs intact,' read another woman's reply. 'Bloody hell we were swimming with the crocodile only last week,' another woman responded. 'We swam here, it did feel a bit croccy,' read another reply. A lengthier comment explained that some swimmers were even aware of the croc's presence, but chose to keep swimming anyway. 'We were there Wednesday morning and just about to leave when a couple told us they saw the croc pop up on the other side of a log where they were swimming,' read the reply. They continued: 'We still went for one last float down as the croc didn't follow the couple back downstream. Other people were still in the water even though they knew it was up the top past the bend.' Some replies from regular Bitter Springs swimmers explained that it was not unusual for freshwater crocodiles to occasionally be in the vicinity of the watering hole, and that you could take the chance of swimming nearby them. A Be Crocwise information sheet explains that Freshwater crocodiles or "Freshies" 'are timid and will usually only attack people when they are forced to defend themselves, for example, if you were to accidentally tread on one'. One commenter who had been there 'that day' even shared a picture of a Crocodile Safety warning sign located at Bitter Springs, alerting swimmers that 'freshwater crocodiles inhabit this area'. However, a few commenters were convinced that the crocodile currently roaming the Bitter Springs vicinity was the aggressive Saltwater crocodile. 'We were there yesterday and saw it. It was some distance upstream in the middle of the stream and not moving,' read one reply. They continued: 'We could see its spine and it looked salty-like to me, but couldn't see the snout from the distance we were at to confirm.' Bitter Springs visitors who claimed to see the crocodile were unable to determine whether it was the less harmful Freshwater crocodile (left) or the 'dangerous' Saltwater crocodile (right). They're distinguishable by their size and snout, with "Salties" growing up to 6 metres and having a more 'broad snout' According to the Be Crocwise factsheet, Freshwater crocodiles only grow up to 4 metres and are distinguishable from the much larger Saltwater crocodiles by the shape of their snout. '"Freshies" have a long tapered snout, while "Salties" have a broad snout,' it explained. But another post from a man who'd swum at Bitter Springs recently alongside some underwater photographers said he too was convinced it was a 'salty'. '[A] spectator from the bank also mentioned he thought it looked salty when he saw it on the surface moments before we came through,' he added. The NT Government's Be Crocwise website warned that Saltwater crocodiles are 'dangerous' - and that 'any body of water in the Top End may contain large and potentially dangerous crocodiles'. 'When you are fishing, camping or swimming in the Top End stay alert at all times to the threat posed by saltwater crocodiles,' the site cautions. Despite the reported croc presence, many commenters on the cautionary post expressed that Bitter Springs was a beautiful swimming spot, with some even declaring it their 'favourite' place for a dip. The Northern Territory Government information and services website park listing describes 'swimming in the crystal clear natural thermal pools' as 'the main attraction at Bitter Springs'. The thermal pool is reached via an easy 20 minute walk from a nearby carpark, and is also wheelchair and pram accessible. The NT Government's Be Crocwise website lists Bitter Springs in Etsey National Park as one of the designated natural waterholes where swimmers can swim 'all year except during extreme flooding'. The site does however note that even areas that are designated as 'safe to swim in' 'may not be safe or free from saltwater crocodiles'.
ABC News
6 days ago
- General
- ABC News
2.5m crocodile found in 'atypical' Mary River habitat to be removed
Queensland wildlife officers are searching for a crocodile seen basking on the bank of the Mary River near Maryborough. The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) received a report on Tuesday of the crocodile being spotted near the town of Dundathu. The person who submitted the report saw a 2.5-metre crocodile on the riverbank before it slid into the river, a DETSI spokesperson said. Wildlife officers inspected the site on Wednesday and are attempting to capture the crocodile. DETSI is asking anyone who sees a crocodile in the Mary River or Wide Bay region to contact them. The sighting follows reports of crocodiles at Inskip Point in February and Bundaberg in January. A 3.8m crocodile was caught on the Mary River near Maryboroug in 2014 and relocated to a crocodile farm in Rockhampton.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Disturbing find in Aussie creek leaves locals 'horrified' as 'stupid' behaviour slammed
A disturbing discovery in the shallows of a Far North Queensland creek is the latest in a string of reckless acts at the home of a large resident crocodile. There are fears the croc, affectionately known as Clyde, could be removed if the "stupid" behaviour continues. Over the weekend, a severed deer head was found right across from Clyde's usual sunbaking spot. Mostly hidden in the murky water, the deer's antlers and head can be seen on the creek bed. Cairns teacher Bryony was taking her sons "nature spotting" in the area and stopped in to see if they could spot Clyde when they were alerted to the deer head by another couple. "It looks like they're trying to either feed him or bait him. It's just really reckless. It was just horrifying," she told Yahoo News. Feeding or baiting crocodiles is an offence, with penalties dramatically increased last year to an on-the-spot fine of $2,580, or a maximum court-imposed fine of $26,614. The act can lead to crocodiles becoming habituated to humans and associating people with food. Bryony, 46, feels signage is needed at the creek to alert tourists of the dangers of approaching and feeding crocodiles. Yahoo News is choosing not to publish Clyde's exact location. "If tourists wander on that beach, then something terrible is going to happen. And it'll be Clyde that's removed, and it could also be a fatality that we'll see," she said. Clyde is what's known as an "icon crocodile", as he is larger than 4 metres, and holds particular cultural significance to the local First Nations people. They see him as a totem animal, but as Clyde's popularity increases, so do the risks. Wildlife guide, photographer and founder of CROC — Community Representation of Crocodiles, Matt Cornish, had a blunt message for those who feed crocs or encroach on their territory for the sake of a selfie. "Stop being stupid. Your behaviour is for a short-term personal gain, but results in long-term pain for the broader community and the Indigenous people of the area and the crocodile, and the ecosystem attached to it," he told Yahoo. "Stupid decisions will result in obviously pain for a lot of different stakeholders in our community, and as we've seen in the past, feeding a crocodile can directly relate to a human fatality from a crocodile attack. We've seen it before, and this behaviour is continuing, and it's about time the government steps up and cracks down on it." The previous incident Matt is referring to happened in August last year, when a man was killed by a crocodile in Cooktown after falling into the river. After his death, it was revealed the crocodile had been fed large amounts of fish on multiple locations at the same spot. "This kind of behaviour not only will result in crocodiles being removed, but will result in another fatality in the near future," Matt said. While the fines were increased to deter offenders, Matt believes it's useless unless the legislation is being policed. A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation confirmed the incident had been reported to them. "Not only is the alleged behaviour extremely dangerous, it could also result in a potential penalty of $26,614," a spokesperson said. "Anyone with information about alleged crocodile offences can report it by calling 1300 130 372. Information can be provided anonymously." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
