Australia: a crocodile that was chasing children and pets was killed and eaten

In the remote community of Bulla, in Australia’s Northern Territory, a 3.6-metre saltwater crocodile was shot dead by police after it ate pets and frightened children. After the hunt, residents chose to honor tradition and transformed the predator into a community feast.

The constant threat of the reptile was perceived as serious by local authorities. According to a Northern Territory Police statement, the crocodile “had been stalking and charging out of the water at children and adults, as well as taking several community dogs.” Following a risk assessment, the decision was made to dispose of the animal.

The same police confirmed that the crocodile was prepared for a feast in the traditional way. Speaking to ABC News, Northern Territory Sergeant Andrew McBride explained: “The animal was cooked in soup, another part on the barbecue and other pieces were wrapped in banana leaves and cooked underground.”

The community took advantage of the situation to organize a “crocodile safety session” for children in which the dangers within the waterways were explained, according to the police.

The saltwater crocodile species, along with the freshwater crocodile, has been protected by federal law in Australia since 1971, after a period of poaching that nearly drove them to extinction. Today, it is estimated that around 100,000 crocodiles live in the Northern Territory alone.

“Any body of water here can contain large and potentially dangerous crocodiles”said Kristen Hay, a wildlife specialist, in the same statement from security agents.

In recent years, encounters between crocodiles and humans have been fatal on several occasions in Australia. In April, a 16-year-old boy lost his life in northern Queensland while trying to swim to shore, and in 2023, the remains of a 64-year-old fisherman were found inside a crocodile in the same region.

According to ABC News, Sergeant McBride detailed the preparation of the crocodile as part of a traditional feast: “It was a pretty big traditional feast and there were some full stomachs.”

The community chose to work together to eliminate the risk that the crocodile posed, following consultation regulations with traditional owners and Parks and Wildlife rangers.

Commander Kylie Anderson said in the police statement: “Crocodiles can pose a significant risk to community safety.” She also praised the collaboration between officers and residents in taking safe measures. The collaboration included a balanced approach between education and tradition.

The Northern Territory Government uses a special, “risk-based strategic management” approach to determine the level of management activity for these crocodiles. The growing population of crocodiles has led them to invade areas where they were not normally seen, a phenomenon attributed to recent flooding.

“Crocodiles are showing up in places you wouldn’t normally see them,” said Sergeant McBride. The authorities understand that it is due to the large amount of water in the area, which pushed them to “random” places.

With an estimated 100,000 saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory, the government this year announced an increase in the number allowed to be killed, from 300 to 1200 in Top End waterways.

This measure seeks to more effectively manage the population and reduce the risks of dangerous encounters between crocodiles and the community. As it was on this occasion, when he went from being a threat to being eaten.