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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Tourists risking lives to see crocodiles at Cahills Crossing in Kakadu National Park

    Serious safety concerns have been raised after hordes of tourists were seen crowding around the banks of a crocodile-infested river in Kakadu National Park, where people have previously been killed.
    Key points:

    • Several crocodiles can be seen near tourists at Cahills Crossing at the changing of the tide
    • The area is supposed to be off limits to pedestrians while a new viewing platform is built
    • Two people have previously been killed by crocs at Cahills Crossing, including one in 2017



    "Someone is going to die," Leon Compton said, who is holidaying in the Top End with his family.
    "A tourist is going to die at Cahills Crossing given the behaviour I saw yesterday at the crossing — it is only a matter of time."
    Mr Compton, a presenter on ABC Radio in Hobart, said he was shocked to see so many tourists risking their lives near the dangerous reptiles, which congregate en masse near the notorious crossing.
    "This is a tourist phenomenon," he said, noting that people usually observe the crocs at a safe distance in a designated area away from the water's edge.
    "I think normally there must be some sort of display or waiting point where people can actually [safely] stand on the bank, but it's being fixed at the moment."


    Photos of the scene have shocked Territorians.(Supplied: Leon Compton)Kakadu National Park manager Shaun Barclay said the crowd was far too close to the crocodiles.
    "Parks Australia is disappointed with the behaviour of some visitors at Cahills Crossing who have ignored safety signage and walked dangerously close to the water, risking the chance of being attacked by a crocodile," he said.
    "Saltwater crocodiles are dangerous animals and have attacked and killed people at Cahills Crossing. It is not safe to stand at the water's edge … visitors should never be complacent around crocodiles."
    Tourists with 'toes in the water' metres away from crocs

    In 2017, a 47-year-old man was killed by a crocodile after trying to walk across the dangerous crossing on the East Alligator River.
    A 40-year-old man was decapitated in the same location in 1987 by a large crocodile, while wading into waters to fish.
    Despite official signs advising pedestrians that the crossing is closed, Mr Compton said he saw between 100 and 200 tourists walk down to the river "literally with their toes in the water".
    "It was absolute insanity," he said.


    Crocodiles can be seen metres from where the tourists are standing.(Supplied: Leon Compton)Multiple crocodiles, including one as large as 4.5 metres, were very close to "people standing right on the edge … with bubbles emerging from the water below".




    Mr Compton said children and vulnerable people were among the crowd.
    "It was so ridiculous," he said.
    "It would have become a stampede if a croc had rocketed out of there.
    "And literally crocs visible only metres away."
    Mr Compton, who was viewing the crocodiles from a high boulder in a safe area, said a park ranger who saw what was going on warned people of the risks.
    "[He said], 'I have lived here all my life and I am extremely nervous standing here right now — what you are doing here is absolute lunacy.'"
    A new federally funded viewing platform at the crossing was first flagged in 2020, but construction did not begin until May this year, with completion expected by about September.
    "We have closed the Cahills Crossing viewing platform and adjacent walking tracks until September while major construction work is underway on the new viewing platform," Mr Barclay said.

    Tourists risking lives to see crocodiles at Cahills Crossing in Kakadu National Park - ABC News



  2. #2
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Bogans I assume?

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    ^Pretty sure they'll be foreign tourists, Australians have had been exposed to how fast these things can come out of the water at local wildlife shows and on tv since they were kids. There's no fucking chance I'd be going within 10 meters of that waterline and even then, I'd want to be 100% sure there was a clear path behind me in case a rapid retreat was neccesary

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    ^Pretty sure they'll be foreign tourists, Australians have had been exposed to how fast these things can come out of the water at local wildlife shows and on tv since they were kids. There's no fucking chance I'd be going within 10 meters of that waterline and even then, I'd want to be 100% sure there was a clear path behind me in case a rapid retreat was neccesary

    This.

  5. #5
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    After just googling how fast a crocodile can run, which is not as fast as a FIT human, I would just make sure that there were a few "fatter" targets between me and the crocs!

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    ^Pretty sure they'll be foreign tourists, Australians have had been exposed to how fast these things can come out of the water at local wildlife shows and on tv since they were kids.
    Yeah but you've got your own trumpanzees. You know they're as thick as shit, right?


  7. #7
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ootai View Post
    After just googling how fast a crocodile can run, which is not as fast as a FIT human, I would just make sure that there were a few "fatter" targets between me and the crocs!

    Add in acceleration and you bet I'd be making sure I was nowhere near the water edge or not. A few fat people between you and the water might obscure your view.

    Phaark that.

  8. #8
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    Having been on a “jumping” crocodile cruise outside Darwin, I can only applaud the utter stupidity of these tourists.

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    A fit human would win a race across land but if you were within a few meters of the waterline and one came exploding out, Usain Bolt wouldn't manage to get away. Unless you were someone who'd worked with them your whole life and knew what was coming (like Matt Wright in the vid below) you'd freeze with fright which would only seal your fate. We could safely assume none of those idiots by the shoreline would have any chance if this happened!


  10. #10
    Thailand Expat armstrong's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Iceman123 View Post
    Having been on a “jumping” crocodile cruise outside Darwin, I can only applaud the utter stupidity of these tourists.
    I had my picture taken while sat on a crocodile in Gambia.

    Nobody died in the 90s.

  11. #11
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    ^
    Them was the good old days, they were trained to be nice to tourists.

  12. #12
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Probably just couldn’t be bothered with all the bones.

    Like me with tilapia.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by armstrong View Post
    I had my picture taken while sat on a crocodile in Gambia.

    Nobody died in the 90s.
    Had they seen what you eat?

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    It's only a matter of time, hope the tour company's well insured,


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    It used to be a regular thing in North Queensland. I remember a fisherman got taken from a riverbank in front of a busload of tourists. (long before everyone was carrying a video camera in their pocket.
    Last edited by Cujo; 30-07-2022 at 08:42 PM.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hallelujah View Post
    Had they seen what you eat?


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