No croc, saltie’s can be dangerous shows new research

IF you’re in Northern Territory — the animal most likely to kill you in a crocodile, new research confirms. Thanks Sandra Sully for the late news.

Saltwater crocodiles don’t want to get to know you better. New research proves how deadly salties can be

IF you’re in the Northern Territory — the animal most likely to kill you is a crocodile, confirms new research.

Dr Marianne Tiemensma, from Royal Darwin Hospital’s Department of Pathology, looked at 4535 cases reported to the NT coroner’s office between 2003 and 2018 and identified 167 “environmental deaths”.

Of these, 17 cases were of fatal crocodile attacks.

“Drowning was the most common type of environmental death, followed by heat-related deaths and fatal crocodile attacks,” she concluded.

“Deaths resulting from lightning and animals other than crocodiles are rare.”

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

John Lawrence criticises government over the new Don Dale

‘Orwellian’ liquor bill passes Territory parliament

Fatal crash near Batchelor

Dr Tiemensma said alcohol intoxication played a role in about one in three cases.

She said the NT was “sparsely populated with a distinctive climate, geography, and wildlife compared with other states and territories in Australia”.

Darwin’s resident croc expert and Crocodylus Park owner Grahame Webb wasn’t surprised.

“You’re not going to get attacked and killed by a rock rat, are you?” he said.

“Crocodiles are a big and serious predator and occasionally something goes wrong.”

Prof Webb said deadly clashes with crocodiles weren’t new.

“I think humans have been dealing with crocodiles for six million years,” he said.

“When the first humans emerged and went down to the lake, or a swamp, they were probably chased away by a crocodile.”

NT News subscription offer: $5 a month for the first three months

Prof Webb said there was plenty of information out there about crocodile safety, and urged Territorians to be CrocWise.

“The more you know, the safer you are,” he said.

NT thermal physiologist Dr Matt Brearley said 36 heat-related deaths over 15 years wasn’t too alarming, but might not be an accurate reflection of the true picture.

Dr Tiemensma’s research, titled Environmental Deaths in the Northern Territory of Australia, was published June 2019 in the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.