NT crocodile attack: Cahills Crossing a crocodile haven

IT’S a stretch of water no bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool from one side to the other, but for many decades Cahills Crossing has reinforced the real nature of the prehistoric saltwater crocodile

IT’S a notorious stretch of water no bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool from one side to the other, but for many decades Cahills Crossing in the heart of Kakadu has reinforced the real nature of the prehistoric saltwater crocodile.

And man has failed to adapt to the risk.

At last count by Parks Australia there were 130 crocodiles — some measuring around 4.5m — living in the 6km upstream stretch from Cahills Crossing.

They live primarily, according to Parks Australia, on the plentiful diet of fish.

Kakadu National Park crocodile management supervisor Garry Lindner said: “They’re big crocs, and they’re healthy crocs ... those crocodiles eat a lot of fish. The main fish of their diet is mullets with a few barramundi thrown in.”

A saltwater crocodile chomps down on a barra at Cahills Crossing. PICTURE: Michael Franchi

Before the tragic overnight news of the death of a 47-year-old from the nearby Gunbalanya community, the last fatal croc attack at Cahills Crossing was in 1987 when 40-year-old Kerry McLoughlin was taken while fishing with his mates.

Everything else since has been a string of near misses.

And it is little wonder with those official croc counts and the anecdotal ones carried out by locals standing on the bank.

Crocodiles gather near the edge of Cahills Crossing. PICTURE: Supplied

Last year Kristi Moseley caught images and video at Cahills Crossing at the northeast fringe of Kakadu National Park with her croc-loving son Eli in September.

She counted 21 crocs floating just off the crossing. Eli counted 25.

“There were lots of 3-4m crocs, at least one was much bigger and other 2-3m ones cruising around,” she said. “I have been to Cahills lots of times but never seen this. It was awesome.”

With these types of reports people still run the gauntlet.

A woman was captured stirring a big croc at the spot throwing a stick at one with her aptly named puppy Meatball.

Then there has been seven people who had to be rescued when their car was washed off a flooded road. Halfway across, their four-wheel drive stalled and was washed partially into the East Alligator River. The passengers climbed to the roof forcing park rangers to rescue them in a boat.

Nature determines we adapt to our environment. It seems we are yet to at Cahills Crossing.

A man and three occupants manage to escape the flooded vehicle after it was washed off Cahills Crossing. PICTURE: John McNeur