Thursday, 13 July 2023

The Crocodile

We visited Litchfield National Park in 2015 in the Northern Territory. I did a post on it so copied what I wrote.  The purpose to show 3 photos of this area is that just a couple of days ago a man got scratched and bitten by a crocodile where people swim in what is known as Wangi Falls. There are several wire meshed areas to help keep the crocodiles out but unfortunately it had been raining rather heavy and the water had risen thus a crocodile got in.  

As you can see by the map at the bottom of the post we were a very long way from home.

Litchfield National Park, covering approximately 1500 km², is near the township of Batchelor, 100 km south-west of Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia. Each year the park attracts over 260,000 visitors.  The park was established in 1986.

Aboriginal people have lived throughout the area for thousands of years. It is important to the Mak Mak Marranunggu (northern portion), Werat and Waray (southern portion) Aboriginal people whose Ancestral Spirits formed the landscape, plants and animals and are still present in the landscape today.

The day we went there it was 35degC, a lovely winter's day though rather warm.  The waterfalls are a welcome sight with many people taking advantage of the water to cool down.

The first photo is borrowed and the crocodile is 3.2 meters long, it will be relocated to another area I guess but I did read where a crocodile will be euthanised, so have no idea which article is true.
The remaining photos are mine taken back when we were there.





61 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yes that's for sure, I would not liked to have been in the water.

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  2. What a great size! As if to meet one of them!

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    1. Not a great idea to come across one in the water or anywhere for that matter.

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  3. Wow, that crocodile is huge and scary.

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    1. It is a nice big one Bill, seen several big ones in my time.

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  4. Sadly I believe the crocodile is now dead. The man (who was lucky) is recovering.

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    1. Yes, I read the same, and thank goodness it wasn't a deadly encounter for the man. Shame about the crocodile but I hear there are so many of them these days since culling was stopped back in the 1970's I think it was.

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  5. Crocodiles are scary shit but impressive as well

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  6. I originally planned the trip to this region when pandemic happened. So the trip was forever postponed

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    1. Well one day you will get there I'm sure, certainly worth going in my book.

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  7. I do like your photograph of the waterfall.

    All the best Jan

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  8. Fencing to keep crocs out failed to do its job. That is very scary.

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    1. It's no surprise that people want to swim at such a beautiful place and take some relief from the heat.

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    2. It had rained heaps Andrew so water was rather high, hence the fencing failed but people probably should have been more wary of the situation but when it's so hot in winter there mostly, reasoning goes out the winter, or common sense.

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  9. What beats me - 30 years ago these crocs were on the verge of distinction
    and now over 100.000.
    Anyone who is so stupid to swim in croc water deserves what they get - EATEN!
    Don't people read signs???????????
    Colin

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    1. Back in the 1970's I think culling was stopped, there is talk again on that matter but it probably won't go ahead the culling I mean.
      Not all people read signs unfortunately and because it had been raining the water was higher in that area people just don't seem to think.

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  10. That was a big one! I love the waterfall!

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    1. Yes a rather large one. Several waterfalls in that area and I imagine after the heavy rain they had not long ago the waterfall would be much improved.

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  11. Beautiful photos, wow a crocodile in nature is quite a bit scary.
    We can only see a crocodile in a zoo.
    Greetings Irma

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    1. If humans about that's a good place for them to be in a zoo. When in the tropics we always looked out for crocodiles.

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  12. Getting gnawed on by a crocodile is probably not on anyone’s bucket list!

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    1. Certainly wouldn't be the best way to spend your time. When you see a big one they are ever so large.

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  13. Oh my goodness! That guy would be terrifying to come across. Not that it doesn’t happen here. Just up the coast from us a woman walking a small dog in her neighborhood was snatched and killed by a gator about 30 miles from our home!

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    1. Oh dear me, poor lady, wouldn't be a nice feeling. If at the beach or on the beach we always looked for them in the tropics because they could be anywhere, some areas we didn't even go to the beach, wasn't safe.

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  14. That's an interesting story and thank you for sharing, the map also. I went to the Everglades years ago and saw their alligators. Fascinating creatures but pays to be very wary as they are everywhere, not only in the water but also on the side of the open walkways sunning themselves.

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    1. You are correct Denise as out crocs do the same. Just have to look and take note of the surrounds, if any we didn't go.

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  15. Me da mucho respeto, esos terribles cocodrilos. No sería capaz de acercarme mucho a ellos.
    Un abrazo

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    1. Me neither, I believe many people saw the crocodile and were rather frightened as you would be.

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  16. Crikey! I did see it on the news and a brave person managed to save a couple of people before getting out safely.... The NT is a wild place for sure! (tentativelytasmanian.blog)

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    1. A frightening thing to happen up there or anywhere for that matter..
      At least we are safe down here from crocs.

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  17. El cocodrilo da miedo pero es precioso. Tus fotografías son muy bonitas. Besos.

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  18. So the crocodile is pretty big.
    The waterfall is beautiful.

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    1. Not good to come across a big crocodile or any size for that matter. Amazing creatures. Thanks

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  19. A fantastic spot!
    What a huge crocodile. Unpleasant situations sometimes happen because we humans invade the habits of animals.

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    1. We do exactly that Maria then wonder why we get bitten, same with sharks.

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  20. Hi Margaret, I have friends staying at Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park at the moment. Carolann tells me it was a 2.3m croc that slipped through the surveillance and attacked someone. The man is in hospital and they killed the Croc. The crocodile hunter is preparing the skull to present to the injured man. Only in Australia! :)

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    1. I read somewhere two conflicting sizes of the croc Pauline. Gosh I wonder if the man wants the skull, or did he request it, be interesting to know!

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  21. Gorgeous setting! And what a huge Croc!!
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. Yes it's a big one and I believe they caught a larger one.

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  22. Tremendo el cocodrilo. Me encantan las casascadas Margaret.
    Buen fin de semana .
    Un abrazo.

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  23. Pretty blog, and I hope the Croc will be alright.

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  24. Oh, impactante la imagen de ese tremendo animal...
    Un saludo, amiga

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    1. Yes it's a big crocodile and there are even bigger ones.

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  25. 😱😱 aiuto è enorme.
    Ma fa paura anche in fotografia e legato

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  26. πω πω!! Φανταστικά τοπία!!! Λίμνη καταρράκτης κροκόδειλος!!!
    Έχω μείνει έκπληκτος!!

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    1. It is lovely there but always have to be aware of crocodiles may come even though they are kept out but with the rain the water became higher and let the crocodiles in....it's a big one.

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  27. POsto incantevole, meno rassicurante è il coccodrillo, non deve essere bello incontrarlo mentre uno nuota, ciao Angelo.

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    1. Not good at all to see a crocodile coming towards you any size Angelo.

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  28. how scary to hear about such attack by such dangerous predator dear Margaret
    we see in movies only such scene .
    thanks for glimpse from previous visit that give brief understanding how sensitive the place is despite all the beauty

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    1. On the west coast of Australia there are several shark attacks during the year which is sad. We encroach their sea and we should be more careful.

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