Salty seeks shower refuge, scares plumber in Bukudal Homelands

A three metre salty crept up to a home and went into an outside dunny, possibly seeking refuge from larger crocs, but scaring a plumber on the job, the Laynhapuy Homeland Aboriginal Corporation boss has said.

The 2.5 – 3m saltwater crocodile in happier times, before it herded back among the bigger crocs. Picture: Supplied

A three metre salty crept up to a home and went into an outside dunnyr, possibly seeking refuge from larger crocs, but scaring a plumber on the job, the Laynhapuy Homeland Aboriginal Corporation boss has said.

Laynhapuy Homeland Aboriginal Corporation executive Ashleigh Ayres said the crocodile was found in the bathroom at Bukudal Homelands – about 85km southwest of Yirrkala and 50km north of Blue Mud Bay – on January 22 and while they are used to seeing crocodiles, they never get so close to the buildings.

“(We don’t get crocs) too often thankfully,” she said.

“But that particular community has a big swamp close behind it with a lot of crocs in it so (they’re) not too surprised there.

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“Normally they move straight into the sea as they are on the beach and don’t usually go near the houses, but this one was found in the outside shower.”

Ms Ayres said the crocodile was possibly escaping the threat of larger crocs in the area and was peacefully returned to the swamp.

“Our plumber took the photo while he was out there working. The croc ventured up from the swamp behind the community and gave everyone a fright,” she said.

“(The community) think she got chased out of the swamp by the larger crocs that live in there.

“They tried to get the crocodile to move along out of the house and she moved out onto the beach for a while and eventually continued on into the sea ... they nudged it with a long stick a couple of times to get it moving.”

While proving an obvious threat, the community don’t fret too much over the fear of crocodiles, instead trying to peacefully share the land with the reptiles.

“The Yolngu (indigenous) here believe it is their home and territory also so they just let them be,” Ms Ayres said.