Rangers Kill 14-foot Crocodile After Fatal Attack on Girl

Wildlife rangers in the Northern Territory took action to trap or shoot a crocodile responsible for the fatal attack on a young girl in Mango Creek near Palumpa. After receiving permission from the traditional landowners, they were able to confirm that the shot crocodile was indeed the one that killed the girl. The death of the girl has had a significant impact on her family and the local community, as acknowledged by senior Sgt. Erica Gibson in a police statement, emphasizing the ongoing support being provided to those affected.

According to crocodile scientist Grahame Webb, the 14-foot crocodile was likely a male that was at least 30 years old, as these reptiles continue to grow throughout their lives and can live up to 70 years. The incident occurred shortly after the Northern Territory approved a 10-year plan to manage crocodile numbers, with an increase in culling rates near human habitats. Despite the protection of crocodiles as a totem by many Indigenous Australians, the government emphasized the need to prevent crocodile populations from surpassing human numbers, given the territorial overlap and potential risks involved.

The Northern Territory, with a vast land area but sparse human population, faces the challenge of balancing the coexistence of communities with an estimated 100,000 crocodiles. Findings suggest that crocodiles have maintained their population balance through natural means, such as predation among themselves, with limited human intervention since the ban on hunting them was implemented in 1971. Grahame Webb highlighted the role of crocodiles in regulating their own population dynamics by preying on each other, indicating a natural mechanism contributing to the stability of crocodile numbers in the region.