Croc creates a big stink

Smelly beast on prowl near Newell Beach

RANGERS have set a trap to capture a large “stinky” crocodile that stalked two people sitting on the sand at Newell Beach, north of Mossman.

Mossman resident Uki Burchill, 20, visited the beach with a friend about 11.30pm on Monday and before they went to sit down near the water’s edge, smelled an odour that she likened to roadkill.

“We sat there for about 10 minutes before it started to get stronger,” she said.

“I said to my mate ‘maybe we should move along the beach a bit further’.

“We moved about 5-6m back towards the car and went to sit down.”

About 10 minutes later, Ms Burchill spotted a large, dark shape slowly moving out of the water.

“We jumped up and we must have startled it,” she said.

“We hopped into the car, shone the headlights and saw it was a croc.

“It was massive, and it was just sitting in the water, about 5m away from us.”

She said it was too dark to estimate the reptile’s size but said its head was very broad, suggesting the animal may have been more than 4m long.

The incident was reported to the Department of Environment and Science, which has confirmed it has received numerous reports of a large crocodile in the mouth of the Mossman River and at Newell Beach.

A department spokeswoman said wildlife officers later confirmed the presence of a large crocodile in the area.

“DES wildlife officers have placed a crocodile trap in the river to remove the animal,” she said. “Members of the public are asking to stay away from the trap to increase the chances of the animal being caught.

“Temporary recent crocodile sighting warning sights have also been installed in the area.”

She said reports of the crocodile approaching people on beaches at boat ramps were consistent with behaviour of a croc that had been fed.

“Fed crocodiles can come to associate humans with food, become emboldened, and start stalking people near the water’s edge,” she said.

Ms Burchill acknowledged she should have been more careful being so close to the water’s edge in crocodile territory late at night.

She believed the croc was hungry and looking for an easy meal.

“I’m so thankful my time wasn’t up,” she said.