NATIONAL NINE NEWS (Darwin, Australia) 30 September 05 Rogue crocs blend into the background (Tim Arvier)
After this second fatal crocodile attack within a week, massive searches were launched for the two animals responsible. But sadly for the searchers and the victim's families, neither could be found and all hunts have since been called off.
Northern Territory ranger Tom Nichols was in Groote Eyelandt to hunt the four-metre saltwater croc which killed British Mining superintendent Russell Harris on last Saturday, while another ranger, Peter Fitzgerald, flew to the Cobourg Peninsula to hunt the animal which killed Darwin man Russel Butel.
But capturing the crocodile responsible isn't that straightforward. According to Tom Nicholls, who catches many rogue crocodiles around Darwin, a successful search depends on how quickly rangers can respond.
In the case of the crocodile on Groote Eyelandt, police shot at what they thought was the responsible animal on Sunday. But the croc disappeared from sight with no one able to tell if it had been killed. When Tom Nichols arrived on Tuesday, the chances of finding the croc were very small. Predictably, nothing was sighted and he returned to Darwin.
The remoteness of the Territory works against the rangers. In the case of Russell Harris’ death, rangers were not able to reach the location until several days after the attack. Even if a crocodile is then sighted, there is no way of telling if it was the killer.
“If you go in and there’s more than one croc, what do you do? Unless it’s got markings you can’t be sure," said Mr Nichols.
Searching during the day is largely futile, as crocodiles can detect incoming boats or traps. Most catches need to take place at night so harpoons and traps can be used, however these often lead to the crocodile being killed.
Both searches have now been abandoned for reasons which make crocodile hunting inherently difficult.
At Trepang Bay, the scene of Mr Butel’s death, rangers spotted the crocodile while retrieving the body but were unable to catch it when they returned. In this case, rangers were able to access the area much quicker than in Groote Eyelandt, but problems arose when they had to try and pinpoint the crocodile responsible.
“We had a look up in the helicopter after we retrieved the body, but there's that many crocodiles up here now it's just disappeared into the rest of the population,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
Rangers also fear more attacks are likely with the onset of the wet season. Crocodiles become more active as temperatures rise, and according to experts, the estimated 80,000 saltwater crocodiles in the Territory are now on the move.
This danger is increased when people ignore warnings and continue to swim or dive in crocodile-infested waters. And while the beaches may be empty now after two attacks in five days, Tom Nichols says it won’t be long before people come back.
“It’s in the public’s nature. I dare say in a little while you’ll see people popping up again.”
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=65366
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (Darwin) 30 September 05 Killer croc will never be found, ranger says
A Northern Territory park ranger involved in the search for a crocodile that killed a diver on the Coburg Peninsula north of Darwin believes the culprit will never be found.
The search for the four-metre saltwater crocodile has been called off.
Park ranger Peter Fitzgerald was one of five people who searched for Russell Butel when the commercial diver went missing in Trepang Bay, 150 kilometres north-east of Darwin, at midday yesterday.
Searchers followed the coordinates of an EPIRB tracking device left by Mr Butel's dive partner.
They found Mr Butel's body two kilometres away just off a beach early yesterday afternoon.
Mr Fitzgerald says finding the crocodile is nigh-on impossible.
"There are that many crocodiles up there, it's just disappeared into the rest of the population," he said.
Mr Fitzgerald says all commercial divers in the Top End are aware of the dangers.
"They're taking a very grave risk as far as any water-based activity, it's just not on," he said.
He says Mr Butel's diving partner was traumatised by the attack and has returned to Darwin.
He will make a statement to police before flying home to New Zealand.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200509/1472280.htm?darwin
