Kakadu National Park’s most popular crocodile-watching spot, where unsupervised visitors often come close to crocodiles, needs to be managed more carefully to prevent attacks, according to people working in the park.
The comments surrounding the management of the famous Cahills Crossing follow a video recorded there last week showing adults and children near the water’s edge with 10 large crocodiles nearby.
Kakadu crocodile management supervisor Gary Lindner said he was concerned about the videos and other cases of calm human behavior around crocodiles in Kakadu.
“[The footage] It’s absolutely alarming. It’s basically a tragedy about to unfold,” he told ABC Radio Darwin.
Gary Lindner is a veteran conservationist dealing with crocodile management in Kakadu. (ABC Radio Darwin: Jesse Thompson)
“Other incidents have been recorded… Unfortunately, a minority of people continue to ignore the obvious dangers there.
But if a crocodile sees you and decides to eat you that day, it is very capable of doing so, especially if you are at the water’s edge.
Park rangers can evict and fine Kakadu visitors who ignore the dangers around crocodiles.
However, Mr Lindner said the fines were now being reviewed under environmental regulations that could carry stiffer penalties.
“A large part of [the review] He said: “It will put visitors, residents and local fishermen who are fully engaged and ignore the obvious danger they are in Cahills Junction and any other water in the park where saltwater crocodiles live.”
People standing at Cahills Pass fishing in the water. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
“And if the current [penalties] do not work, increases them [is an option]and basically spreading those fines when they’re issued.
“If crocodile safety signs and warnings are not sufficient, perhaps fines can be a deterrent, such as parking fines.”
Mr. Lindner said the cost of the fines depended on the behavior.
“I think anything around $500 or so is a fair hit in the pocket, that’s something our regulators can consider and implement with the regulations that are coming,” he said.
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Crocodile warning signs are prominent around the crossing and Mr Lindner said the signs and training measures at Kakadu were adequate.
As well as being famous for crocodile sightings, Cahills Crossing is the main crossing from the East Alligator River to Arnhem Land.
The passage is raised during high tide, when crocodiles can swim up to the road.
Visitors at Cahills Crossing in 2022. (Featured: Leon Compton)
In 2022, a new $3 million viewing platform opened at the site.
In 2017, a 47-year-old man was killed by a crocodile after trying to cross the crossing.
A 40-year-old man was also killed by a large crocodile in 1987 while going into the water to fish.
In a statement, Parks Australia, the federal agency that manages Kakadu, said it was taking the crocodile’s safety seriously.
“The vast majority of visitors adhere to the safety instructions and signs provided, but the actions of a small minority raise concerns,” the statement said.
“To address this, we continue to implement a range of safety measures including face-to-face safety briefings, educational talks and safety advice via visitor brochures and social media.”
Parks Australia also said current regulations meant rangers could issue safety instructions if they believed personal safety was at risk, and failure to comply could result in fines or being ordered out of the park.
The guide says more monitoring is needed
Kakadu tour guide and Murrumborer man Dennis Miller said local rangers should be used to change behavior at Cahills Pass to prevent an attack.
“They definitely need something in there because what actually happens is someone gets eaten,” he said.
Then they want to kill the crocodiles and close the place and people can’t experience it because of someone else’s stupidity.
Dennis Miller says a permanent security guard presence could help improve safety at Cahills Crossing. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
“I have seen children playing in and by the water.
Hire more Bininj local rangers there. You can’t fence it or anything.
Crocodile expert Graham Webb, who has worked with crocodiles in the Northern Territory for more than 50 years, said the threat at Cahills Crossing needed to be addressed.
He also said that more surveillance at the crossing could be the solution.
“The joint venture runs a very popular tourist attraction … but it comes with a responsibility, and that’s managing people’s behavior,” he said.
Graham Webb says visitor behavior around crocodiles is worrying. (ABC News: Tristan Hoft)
“I think if they’re going to use it as a popular place, they should have people there to manage it.
“You don’t let uninformed people enter areas like areas that are likely to be attacked by crocodiles.”
Dr. Webb also said that a bridge over the river could end the usual chaos that occurs at the low-lying crossing.
“I don’t know why they don’t put a bridge there, Christ,” he said.
“I think it’s probably about time.”
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