 Crocodile Safety Information
Northern Australia is crocodile country. Therefore it is important to put awareness of crocodiles and safety at the top of your priority list when living in, working in or simply visiting crocodile habitat. Living with crocodiles is not difficult so long as you bear the following points in mind.
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General Safety
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- Always be aware that crocodiles may be present anywhere that there is water.
- Unless there is clear signage that it is safe to swim, assume that crocodiles may be present.
- Warning signs are there for your benefit! Ignoring them is foolish.
- Always check with local authorities and rangers whether an area is likely to contain crocodiles.
- If in doubt, always swim in designated swimming areas only. If there's no sign, don't go swimming.
- A spotlight or LED head-torch is strongly recommended at night so that any eyeshines can be seen, but a lack of eyeshines does not mean that it's safe to swim - crocodiles may be underwater.
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Bushwalking Safety
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- If walking near water, stay at least 3-5 metres from the bank whenever possible. Crocodiles may strike from the water if you are close enough to the edge, and crocodiles often bask (particularly in the dry season) on the banks within a few metres of the water.
- If you need to cross small streams, try to do so at shallow areas where you can see the bottom.
- Keep your dog away from the water's edge - crocodiles are attracted to dogs and are more likely to attack them or people near them.
- Try to inform a family member or friend of your journey and estimated return time. This is a standard safety procedure in the event of an emergency and may save your life.
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Camping Safety
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- Do not camp near the water's edge. It might seem like the best place to camp for the view or access to water, but it puts you within range of curious crocodiles that will investigate your camp or even your tent at night
- We recommend a minimum distance of 50 metres from the water's edge, preferably 100 metres. We also strongly recommend camping at the top of a steep bank. Near the beach, we recommend camping behind the first sand dunes well away from high tide mark. The harder it is for a crocodile to reach your campsite, the less likely you are to get a visit from one.
- Always clean up your food and food scraps. Crocodiles also like to scavenge, and they have an excellent sense of smell and will be attracted towards campsites that leave food and food scraps lying around. If you have been handling food, including fish, make sure you wash down thoroughly before camping for the night. The crocodile can smell that fish and will think you are a giant barramundi.
- Do not fillet or gut fish and dispose of the contents in the water or anywhere near your camp. This is like putting bait out to attract crocodiles.
- If you need to visit the water's edge for any reason, always look out for crocodiles. Even a quick scan of the water and nearby banks is better than nothing, but a regular watch for several minutes (we recommend 15 minutes).
- Never visit the same spot on the water's edge more than once. Crocodiles are masters of learning routines, and if you fill your billy at the same spot each time you may find a crocodile waiting for you.
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Fishing Safety
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- Going fishing is one of the most popular past-times in northern Australia. Crocodiles may be attracted to fishing activities, because they can learn to snatch fish from lines while they are struggling in the water, near the bank or by the side of the boat.
- Keep your hands and arms inside the boat. Many boats are very close to the water surface, and arms hanging over the edge are within easy striking range of a crocodile under the water.
- Always use a landing net when retrieving heavy or struggling fish. Never reach into the water to handle the fish, because crocodiles are attracted to struggling fish and can easily grab your hand instead of the fish.
- Never put your hands into the water when releasing fish. If you need to revive a fish, consider using a landing net while it recovers. Holding a fish in the water with your hands is asking for trouble because it puts you at extreme risk of being bitten if a crocodile tries to grab the fish. There have been numerous close calls in recent years - do not be the first to be attacked by a crocodile while reviving a fish.
- When fishing from the bank, try to use areas with higher banks further from the water. Alternatively, fish from behind barriers at the water's edge. Kakadu National Park is successfully using thigh-high barriers that provide protection from crocodiles, particularly those using hand-lines who need to stand closer to the edge.
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Boat Ramp Safety
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- In general it is safe to launch boats in northern Australian waterways, but it does put you at the water's edge and at risk from crocodile attack.
- Always walk down the boat ramp and check the water in and around the ramp for signs of crocodiles (tracks, slides, crocodiles) especially when using one of the less popular boat ramps.
- Avoid entering the water while launching or hauling out boats. Getting your feet wet is often part of any boat launch, but wading thigh-deep into the water to manoeuvre your boat is asking for trouble. Crocodiles are very unlikely to be a threat in shallow water on the boat ramp, but in deeper water they are a very real threat especially when you and your boat smell of fish. Kakadu National Park is trialing safety barriers on each side of boat ramps which can improve safety for users (eg. East Alligator boat ramp).
- Never discard dead fish, fish scraps, or attempt to fillet or gut your fish on or near a boat ramp. Fish scraps act as bait for crocodiles, and this will attract crocodiles to the boat ramp and increase the likelihood of an attack next time you or someone else launches a boat there.
- Be aware that crocodiles will often go beyond the call of duty to steal a fish, including fish left in your boat, fish left in your open ute or truck, and fish scraps left lying around. Always move anything that smells of fish well away from the water (at least 50 metres) to avoid attracting crocodiles.
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