Saltie pulled from Marlow Lagoon, near Top End’s favourite dog walking route

Two crocs were pulled from the Top End’s lagoons, putting dog walkers on edge. We reveal how many salties are caught annually, and the bizarre places some were found.

A saltwater croc was caught at popular dog walking spot on Tuesday morning.

The 1.2m saltie could have made light work of a small or medium dog if it continued to roam Marlow Lagoon.

The Croc Management Unit also pulled a 2.9m croc from Faith’s Lagoon in the rural area.

A 1.2m saltwater croc was caught in a Marlow Lagoon trap on Tuesday morning. Picture: Supplied

There were 277 saltwater crocs captured in the Top End in 2022.

Crocodile Management Unit wildlife ranger Jaylen Marshall said the numbers were “pretty average” compared to 2021, when 313 salties were caught.

He said the drop could “just be the lack of a wet season the last few years”, but the monsoonal weather could mean a busy start to the new year.

Mr Marshall said the biggest catch of the year was a monster 5.1m saltie from the Finniss River.

“That was one of the biggest, but also, I’d say a 4.5m out of the harbour as well, one of the biggest ones this year,” he said.

There were 277 saltwater crocs caught in the Top End in 2022. Picture: Supplied

“Those sorts of crocs are the bigger ones you’d expect to see, you don’t really see those every day.

“When you do see those, you’ve got to be very wary.”

One of the most unexpected catches of the year was a freshwater croc in a Rosebery home.

“In their pool, actually,” Mr Marshall said.

“That was a weird one, it was a bit far away from the water.

“Also, there was another one – pulling a saltie from the Dundee Lodge earlier in the year.”

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