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SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (Australia) 16 June 03 Between a croc and a hard place (David Hancock)
Twin Falls at Kakadu National Park is a paradise that encompasses a white sandy beach, a deep pool of clear, green water and a waterfall that cascades over high, rocky escarpments. But somewhere in this pristine environment lurks a three-metre crocodile.
Even though the reptile was last seen four weeks ago, it has been responsible for the closure of one of the Top End's most popular tourist destinations, and has left park management with a dilemma. Do they risk the safety of visitors by opening the area, or continue to absorb pressure from an industry in which many operators are on the verge of insolvency?
The manager of Kakadu Park, Chris Haynes, yesterday described the decision as "agonising", especially following the death of a young German tourist who was taken by a large saltwater crocodile in the park last year.
"Parks staff have a very clear idea of what crocodiles are capable of," he said. "Our challenge is to have the public understand."
Each wet season, saltwater crocodiles make their way to Jim Jim and Twin Falls from further downstream and have to be cleared before tourists are allowed to swim. This year five crocodiles ventured in, and so far one is known to have left the area and two were captured and removed.
This week park rangers checked two steel traps at Twin Falls with no luck - no teeth or slide marks.
A ranger, Kathy Wilson, and one of the park's traditional owner, Jeffrey Lee, patrolled the pool by swimming 300 metres along a narrow gorge in clear, sometimes deep, water - a dangerous situation if a crocodile is present.
The Bininj Aboriginal people of Kakadu have always lived with ginga, or saltwater crocodile.
"While this place is a park and all the tourists come here, it is also ginga's country," Mr Lee said. "It's a hard decision to capture him and I feel sorry for ginga but there are a few places ginga cannot be."
Rangers will continue patrols until the rogue crocodile is found or moves on. Mr Haynes said it may be weeks before the area reopens.
Between a croc and a hard place

I'm confused . . . isn't one of the beauties of going to a national park to see natural habitat and the wildlife therein? I'm not from Australia and I don't have croc experience and granted I wouldn't want to be attacked by one but it seems that removing a croc from a location that is his natural home so people can swim is kind of akin to removing all the bears in Yellowstone just so people could hike wherever they wanted in complete safety. Isn't part of the purpose of National Parks to protect and preserve the wildlife and the habitat thereof?
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