SUNDAY TERRITORIAN (Darwin, Australia) 04 May 08 Trophy hunter cuts off croc's head (Daniel Bourchier)
A Territory mum was outraged to come across a beheaded croc in a Darwin waterway yesterday.
Recreational fishermen and visitors to Elizabeth River, Palmerston, were confronted by the 3m floating carcass of the crocodile.
The body was floating belly-up near a crocodile trap, missing its head.
Mel Jensen of Gunn, Palmerston, was with her husband Paul and four of their five children when they came across the crocodile.
"This was the worst act of cruelty I have seen,'' she said.
"The people who are responsible for this should be ashamed of themselves.
"This was most definitely not a nice scene for children to see.
"It's disgusting and they are cowards.
"The children were upset.''
Another newsbreaker, Chris Bell, 34, of Berrimah said it was sad to see the dead croc.
"I go out fishing every weekend and I have never seen anything like this,'' he said.
"It was unbelievable and sad -- it's not real good to see that.
"It has been trophy hunted for sure.
"I know crocodiles are not our best friend, but they don't deserve this.''
Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts wildlife officer Peter Phillips said this sort of behaviour was disappointing.
"This crocodile would have been killed illegally and the head removed by a trophy hunter,'' he said.
"We frown on this and there is a $55,000 fine or a five-year jail sentence for anyone caught.
"This behaviour is absolutely disgraceful (but) it does happen on occasion unfortunately.''
Mr Phillips said they depend on information from the public to protect wildlife.
Parks and Wildlife is investigating and asked members of the public to phone 0419822839 if they had seen anything.
Trophy hunter cuts off croc's head