The Parks and Wildlife Commission NT (PWCNT) have trapped 114 saltwater crocodiles so far in 2017, more than double the 53 they had collected at this time last year.

“There have been over fifty captures in March alone and the biggest we have trapped so far this year was 4.2m,” said PWCNT Crocodile Management, Chief Wildlife Ranger Tom Nichols.

The 4.2m salty was caught in the Southport trap, this trap is only 400 metres from a public boat ramp and it was the second crocodile over 4 metres captured in that trap this month.

The Crocodile Management Team also has evidence that people have been interfering with traps.

This is an inherently unsafe thing to do and undermines the hard work of the crocodile management unit in keeping Territorians safe from crocodiles.

“We discovered that at four different traps, where crocodiles had triggered the trap doors, persons unknown to us, have in fact tampered with the device to open the traps and subsequently release the animals,” Mr Nichols said.

Under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act it is an offence to touch, stand on, enter, move or disturb a Commission crocodile trap. Doing so may result in a penalty ranging between $502 (infringement) to a maximum penalty of $7,700 or 6 months imprisonment (prosecutable offence).

“Crocs are on the move and can be in any waterway so Be Crocwise. With the Easter break coming up and the dry season around the corner, we urge everyone to be smart and sensible at all times,” added Mr Nichols.

Please see attached map of crocodile trapping locations and numbers for 2017.

For up-to-date information and more details on previous years crocodile numbers visit https://nt.gov.au/emergency/community-safety/crocodile-capture-and-management/map-of-crocodile-captures

The Northern Territory Be Crocwise strategy can be viewed online at www.becrocwise.nt.gov.au

To report saltwater crocodile sightings in the Darwin region phone 0419 822 859 or in the Katherine region phone 0407 958 405.

For up-to-date information regarding access to parks and reserves administered by the Parks and Wildlife Commission visit http://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves

Images and attachments:
1-6: Photos of 4.2m saltwater crocodile captured at Southport
7: Map of Crocodile locations and numbers in 2017

Media contact:
Department of Tourism and Culture – Parks and Wildlife I Media Manager:  0476 844 832