|
A middle aged German tourist was attacked by a crocodile in Lake Kununurra last Thursday. Emmy Huber told the Kimberley Echo she had been backing into the water at Kona Caravan Park when she was grabbed from behind on the leg. She was only knee-deep at the time and bolted straight out of the water to safety. Emmy said she didn't see the crocodile, nor did anyone else. She was taken to Kununurra District Hospital, where she received 18 stitches to several puncture wounds. Dr Ann Ward said the wounds were consistent with a bite from a freshwater crocodile. Emmy and partner Jocher Schroder had only been in Kununurra for two days when the attack happened. Emmy had spent an hour in the water on the previous day and had no problems. The pair arrived in Australia only recently and has visited Darwin and Kakadu before heading into the Kimberley. The attack hasn't dulled their enthusiasm for seeing the remainder of Australia. |
Jocher said they would spend a year touring Australia before returning to their hometown of Freiburg in Germany. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) has warned that with the onset of the monsoonal season estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles are becoming more active. CALM district wildlife officer Brad Rushforth said crocodiles can become more aggressive at this time which coincides with the breeding season. "Approaching crocodiles is a foolhardy practice and puts people and crocodiles at risk," he said last week. "The old adage of 'let sleeping dogs lie' should be applied here." CALM has also urged people not to feed either freshwater or saltwater crocodiles due to the health and safety risks to both humans and crocodiles. "The recent incident at Kona Caravan Park has highlighted this as a dangerous practice that takes away their natural fear of humans and teaches crocodiles to recognise us as a source of food. "Crocodiles have also been known to attack dogs and other pets encroaching on their territory in and around Kununurra's waterways. |
"Pet owners are encouraged to be vigilant," Brad said. "Crocodile warning signs are situated at various locations where people launch boats and fish, however it should be noted that not all waterways are signposted and the absence of a sign does not necessarily mean the absence of crocodiles. "Please seek credible advice if you are unsure. "Large estuarine crocodiles have the potential to kill humans. "With this in mind it is essential that people recreating in crocodile habitat take a commonsense approach with regard to their activities in and around the water." Recently, there have been reports of saltwater crocodiles above the Diversion Dam. During the last two months CALM has used two crocodile traps at several different locations but nothing has been caught at this time (besides a couple of freshies, which were duly released). The traps have now been removed with the onset of the wet season.
|