Freshwater crocodile found in roadside culvert in Knuckey Lagoon

Just days after a freshwater croc was spotted near Nightcliff Jetty, a second freshie has been sighted in town. This time, in an area one local did not expect to find it. WATCH.

Just days after a freshwater crocodile was spotted near Nightcliff Jetty, footage of a second sociable freshie has emerged, this time in a culvert not far from Paradise Nursery in Knuckey Lagoon.

Madison Edward of Woodroffe was cutting the grass alongside McMillans Rd when she spotted the reptile and pulled out her camera.

“I was mowing along the footpath and I saw something run from the grass into the knee deep water in the drain that had gathered from all the rain,” she said.

“I looked over and it was this little freshie with half its top jaw missing.”

The Freshwater crocodile in the culvert. Picture: Supplied (Madison Edward)

A map showing the location of where the freshie was found. Picture: Google Maps

Ms Edward said she had never spotted a freshy in the area before and thinks it must have travelled several kilometres to have got to the roadside drain.

“I was having a look at the map to see where it could have come from,” she said.

“A couple of kilometres into the scrub there is a lagoon looking thing, so I think it could have been from there.”

It is the second freshwater crocodile sighting in as many days after Nightcliff resident Vaibhav Patel captured footage of a freshie on the rocks next to the local jetty.

Mr Patel’s footage caused some alarm among the online community considering the freshwater croc had found itself in saltwater territory.

The Freshwater crocodile spotted near Nightcliff Jetty. Picture: Supplied.

Charles Darwin University’s, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Dr Cameron Baker said concerns for the reptile were likely unfounded.

“Despite their name, freshies are not restricted to only living in freshwater and are often found living in the brackish tidal zones of many rivers,” he said.

“It is possible that with the increased run-off from all the recent rain, the individual was flooded out of their normal home and is waiting for floodwaters to subside before returning.

“Alternatively, the recent rainfall will have also diluted the water near the coast, and this individual could be using this as an opportunity to move between creeks and rivers.”

Mr Baker said as long as the freshie isn’t in a saltwater habitat for too long it should be fine, if they manage not to “become food for a salty”.

“Depending on the duration they spend in salt water, there are unlikely to be many health concerns,” he said.

“While not as efficient as those found in salties, like all other crocodiles, freshies also possess salt glands in their mouths and cloaca, allowing them to excrete excess salt from their bodies.

“It is best that if anyone does come across a freshie in a saltwater habitat to just leave it alone. If you are concerned about the individual you could report it to the department for them to investigate, but you’re likely best off just admiring it from a distance.”