SNAPPY CHRISTMAS
People walk their dog at Little Mindil Beach where a 2.5m saltie was keeping a close eye on passers-by
ANDY Evers had to be snappy when she heard a group of onlookers shout out ‘‘crocodile!’’
Ms Evers and her partner Quentin Rahaus had taken their dogs for a stroll near Little Mindil Beach on Friday evening.
At the water’s edge, relaxing like a tourist in the breaking waves, was a large saltie that the couple guessed was about 2.5m long.
‘‘As we were walking along the grassed area some guys
Then we saw the croc just sitting there with its mouth open
called out to us from the high rise in an urgent sort of tone,’’ Ms Evers said.
‘‘We put our dogs on the leash quickly.
‘‘ Then we saw the croc just sitting there with its mouth open.’’
Another man and his dog were heading along the beach at the same time.
‘‘This little white dog was heading towards [the croc],’’ Mr Rahaus said.
‘‘The croc closed its mouth and stepped towards it. It really could have become quite nasty.’’
Onlookers gathered at the spot, but the crocodile appeared untroubled, remaining calmly at the water’s edge until after the sun went down.
‘‘It sat there for quite a long time,’’ Mr Rahaus said.
‘‘It looked like it was going after fish.’’
Brad Gebhardt, who snapped our front- page picture, said he spotted the croc just south of the casino.
‘‘( He) hung around well into the evening cruising the water and pulling up on the beach every now and then,’’ Mr Gebhardt said.
Rangers were made aware of the croc but were unable to capture it.
Saltwater crocodiles are often spotted on beaches or near the Top End coastline at this time of year.
The NT Parks and Wildlife Commission has traps and other management systems in place, but people should always use caution near the water’s edge.
This wet season crocs have been spotted at The Gardens golf club, Berry Springs Nature Park, Marlow Lagoon at Palmerston and Katherine Gorge, among other places.
Yesterday, the NT News reported pictures showing a baby splashing in the crocodile-infested waters at Cahill’s Crossing in Kakadu National Park.