A LOAD OF CROC?
WEDDING SNAP GOES VIRAL:
FAKE or real? A photograph is circulating that shows what appears to be a large crocodile emerging from a creek to photo-bomb a wedding pic at a Cairns beach.
The crocodile, estimated to be at least 2.5m long, can clearly be seen within metres of the bride’s train as she posed with her groom for a photographer after the tropical beach wedding at Palm Cove.
The photo was taken next to the creek, at the southern end of the popular holiday destination, about five weeks ago.
It is understood the newlyweds were completely unaware of the threat posed by the nearby croc and its presence only became known when their photographs were processed.
The couple refused to be identified.
The Cairns Post has shown the picture to several photographic experts, who believe it is genuine.
But a woman and a man claiming to be the bridal couple called the Cairns Post to say the photograph was a fake and was altered by the photographer who they would also not name. Posts on Facebook also said the photo was not real.
The Department of Environment and Science has been trying to capture a croc that has been spotted between Palm Cove and Kewarra Beach several times during the past two months.
Division 9 Councillor Brett Olds said there was a lack of awareness about the danger of crocodiles at the creek, which was next to a wedding chapel.
“About 18 months ago, there were two kids from Victoria: a little girl up to her waist in the water, and her brother, up to his knees in the water, fishing in that creek,” he said.
“I’ve seen adults swimming in there before, and when they get out, they say ‘oh this is just the most wonderful, private lagoon you’ve ever seen’.
“I tell them there’s a reason for that.”
He said the department needed to be more proactive with croc management on Cairns’ northern beaches, which are popular among tourists.
“When a kid or a person finally gets eaten at a popular beach in the northern beaches of Cairns, someone will capture it on a phone, that will go viral,” he said.
“That will go worldwide, and we might finally get a reaction from the department.”
Palm Cove Weddings coordinator Louise Harris said she was aware that crocs did inhabit the creek.