Butterfly Gorge to be closed to swimmers for a year due to croc risk

A popular swimming location will be closed for up to a year as authorities work on a way to better protect visitors from crocs. Read their plan for reopening.

Butterfly Gorge is closed to swimming for the rest of 2023. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Swimming in a popular Top End waterhole will be off limits after the risk of crocodiles inhabiting the area was deemed too high.

Butterfly Gorge will be closed to swimmers for up to a year as authorities work to improve visitor safety through the development of a walking track to an “elevated pool”.

The main pool will remain permanently closed.

A saltwater crocodile was spotted just days after the Douglas Daly region attraction opened in June last year.

The waterhole was closed for several weeks as the 2m reptile evaded the crocodile management team.

The saltwater croc was spotted swimming in between the rocks at Butterfly Gorge in June 2022. Picture: Supplied

It was reopened later that month but then closed again in September and has not reopened for swimming since.

A Department of Environment Parks and Water Security spokeswoman said after a 3.65m crocodile was removed from the gorge, rangers made the decision to act on the heightened risk.

“Following a review into crocodile management at Butterfly Gorge, the decision has been made for the main pool to remain closed to swimming for visitor safety,” she said.

A new walking track is slated to connect to the gorge’s top pool for swimming. Picture: Annabel Bowles

A new walking track to the top of the gorge is being planned with local community groups.

“Swimming at the park will remain closed for up to 12 months while work is undertaken with stakeholders including (the) Aboriginal Areas Protection (Authority) to develop a new 500m track to an elevated pool where visitor safety can be more easilymanaged,” she said.

“The park receives approximately 1500-2000 visitors a year and will remain open for people to continue to enjoy wildlife watching, day-use walks and four wheel driving.”

It comes after a swimmer in Wangi Falls was attacked by a 2.4m saltie last month.

Rangers were able to capture and kill the croc in question and the Litchfield destination was reopened for swimming about a week later.

This year alone at least four crocodile attacks have been reported, including a teenager bitten on the leg while escaping floodwaters.

So far this year 183 saltwater crocodiles have been captured in the Top End.

A total of 280 crocs were caught in 2022 and 322 in 2021.