NT’s biggest croc and critter stories of 2023

From croc attacks to unique pets, flashers to bangers, the NT has recorded several huge animal encounters in 2023. Read the roundup of the biggest stories.

The Territory is often defined by its crocs and chaos, and this year was filled with strange encounters.

Read the roundup of the NT News’ biggest croc (and critter) stories of the year.

MAN DEFIES DEATH (ADDER)

Palmerston man Lachlan Davis survived a death adder bite in February after he tried to help the critter off the road.

Mum Jodie Berry said the moment she heard of the deadly snake bite was “gut-wrenching”.

A Darwin snake expert said death adders made up a small number of snake bites presented to Aussie hospitals each year, but about 60 per cent of bites resulted in envenomation.

FLOOD VICTIM’S CROC BITE

Dennis was treated for a croc bite at a Kalkarindji clinic after an attack while he was escaping the floods. Picture: Supplied.

A 17-year-old Daguragu resident was “nipped by a crocodile” during flood evacuations in March.

His story caught the attention of former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles when she visited the boy and his peers at Nightcliff Middle School during their stay in the Top End.

“The smile on his face – and the look of relief on his teacher’s face – says it all,” Ms Fyles said.

CROC-INFESTED GETAWAY

An NT fisho almost lost his car when it sank near the Shady Camp boat ramp. Picture: Calum Murray

Darwin fishos went viral when their boat began to sink at the croc-infested Shady Camp boat ramp in April.

Alex Rubai was left scrambling in an unmoored boat when Mr Rubai’s ute took a nosedive into the river, and his friend stood frozen on the waterlogged car’s roof.

“I tried to grab him, but grabbed his underwear. I gave him a wedgie,” Mr Rubai previously told the NT News.

The pair were lucky no crocs were hungry that night.

WANGI FALLS CROC CHAOS

Joel and Meghan Bennett were rescued by two men in a tinnie at Wangi Falls after another man was attacked by a 2m croc in the water.

A Top End swimming hole descended into chaos after a croc bit a 67-year-old man.

Wangi Falls was forced to close temporarily after the ordeal in July, which also saw two tourists trapped on a rock when they fled the water.

The saltie was killed following the incident, and the man was taken to hospital to have his wounds treated.

CROC CULL CALL-OUT

After the croc attack in Wangi Falls, Territorians started calling for additional croc culling.

The NT’s top croc expert Grahame Webb said the attack was just a “storm in a teacup” and said population management wouldn’t necessarily make it safe to swim in waters.

The NT Greens said they welcomed the conversation but urged the NT government to take scientific – rather than political – action.

In a rare move, the Opposition sided with Territory Labor, saying it was important to “get the balance right” between wildlife management and maintaining natural swimming holes.

ROCK OUT WITH YOUR CROC OUT

Axel the croc flashes tourists.

One infamous croc left tourists blushing after the horny beast left his tackle out.

Mon Atkins shared the snap of Axel the Cage of Death croc in August, but revealed the picture had actually been taken a few years prior.

The former Crocosaurus Cove photographer said it wasn’t the first time Axel had let it all hang loose.

“He would do it at the most inappropriate time and usually when there’s a group of kids or a group for a tour coming in,” she said.

BUFF IN THE BUTT

Gordon Sargeant always considered the Territory’s buffalo to be a “magnificent animal” but never dreamt of coming eye-to-eye with one.

But the South Australian camper landed in Royal Darwin Hospital after one of the animals charged him, impaling his right buttock with a horn.

“I was face-to-face with him, he was right against me,” Mr Sargeant said.

“I just held onto his horns so that’s whatever he did with his head, I kept away to keep my stomach away from him, because that’s what they go for.”

KING OF THE CROCS

Crocodiles at Trevor Sullivan property at Eva Valley Road, NT. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Long-time Territorian Trevor Sullivan listed his Eva Valley property for sale, including 11 pet crocs and a death adder.

Mr Sullivan said letting go of his 80-acre property was “painful”, but he hoped his beloved pets would live long and happy lives with a family of young wildlife warriors.

He hoped the “Indiana Jones type with a bit of backbone” would take over the wildlife sanctuary.

SHARKNADO VS CROC

Jessie Leigha shared footage of the moment a shiver of sharks circled a lone crocodile.

Footage of a shiver of sharks circling a croc – before taking a nibble of the scaly reptile – went viral in December.

Jessie Leigha – who took the video – said a croc frequently turned up among the swirling shiver of sharks.

“I think the sharks were not happy with it and tried to take a chunk off it,” she said.

“Having the sharks and the crocodile, we were all just so fascinated and blown away because we hadn’t seen them together.

“We all grabbed our phones out to take a video and then, ‘oh look, the crocodile came out to say hi’, and tried to eat our rope, and then the shark took him.”

Originally published as NT’s biggest croc and critter stories of 2023