It’s Fogg Dam stupidity

TERRITORY Parks and Wildlife rangers want people to stop being dam fools and walking on the Fogg Dam wall | WHAT A LOAD OF CROC PHOTO GALLERY

Fogg Dam crocodile. Pic taken June 29, by Grahame Evans who was visiting from Caves Beach in NSW. Sent in by his daughter (Tracy Johns in Rosebery).

TERRITORY Parks and Wildlife rangers want people to stop being dam fools and walking on the Fogg Dam wall.

Locals and visitors have been have been spotted by rangers walking along the dam wall and are urging them to stop offering themselves up as tasty crocodile bait.

The artificial wetlands differ from the billabongs in that they have long stretches of deep water along the side of the dam wall. This gives saltwater crocodiles the ideal opportunity to ambush unsuspecting passers-by.

PHOTO GALLERY: WHAT A LOAD OF CROC

Lincoln Wilson, the Parks and Wildlife Top End district manager, said there have been no incidents thus far but they wanted to keep locals and visitors educated and croc-wise leading up to crocodile’s more active mating season.

A 4.25m Saltwater Crocodile that was captured at Fogg Dam in 2013. Picture: NT Parks and Wildlife

“They catch crocs all year round there. Nothing has happened but we’re trying to play it safe,” he said.

Signs were erected in 2009 to inform people that the dam wall is closed to people on foot, but the wetlands can still be enjoyed from walking tracks.

A 2.2m crocodile was removed in February this year and a 4.25m croc was removed in April last year and they are regularly spotted by visitors to the area.

There is also a local legend of the “king of the swamp” – a 4.5m croc seen stalking tourists several times in 2009, but luckily it has not been spotted for several years.