There are 23 species of crocodiles worldwide, but only two live in Australia, the estuarine (Crocodylus johnstoni) and the Freshwater (Crocodylus porosus).Freshwater crocs can only be found in Australia, and are seen in freshwater rivers, billabongs and swamps. You can track them down in Northern Queensland, the Cape York Peninsula and in the Gulf of Carpinteria regions.

Estuarine Crocodiles live mainly in the tidal sections of river outlets, fresh water lagoons, billabongs, swamps and waterways throughout Southeast Asia. You may also run into one on a beach in the Great Barrier Reef area, or in the Torres Strait. They cruise up the waterways hundreds of miles inland, so be careful and don’t think they just live in salt water… it’s the opposite. One may be lurking in that nice swimming hole some native told you about, you know – the one on the highway at bridge number so and so…

• The Wet Tropics Management Authority offers the following tips for visitors and locals alike:

  1) Don’t swim where crocodiles live.

  2) Fish a few meters back from the edge
  of the water. Don’t stand on logs or branches
  over deep water. Crocodiles are ambush hunters,
  and able to lunge out of the water.

  3) Avoid activities near the water’s edge
  or on sloping banks. Do your dishes,
  clean fish, and do other activities away
  from the bank and off of boat ramps.

  4) When boating for fishing from a boat,
  don’t dangle arms and legs over the boat or
  into the water. If you fall out of a boat,
  get back in as soon as possible.

  5) Stay back from slide marks. Slide marks
  are bare smooth spots on banks of rivers,
  lagoons and wetlands: they are the spots
  where crocodiles habitually
  haul themselves on shore.

  6) Don’t provoke or interfere with crocodiles.
  This includes small hatchlings.
  While cute by reptilian standards,
  the little squeaky noise they make can often
  attract a very large mother, who is very capable
  of defending her offspring.

  7) Don’t feed crocodiles, either directly,
  or by leaving fish and food scraps on boat ramps or
  campsites. Habituating crocodiles to feeding near areas of human activities is a
  dangerous thing to do.

  8) Camp 2m above the high water mark
  and 50m from water’s edge in crocodile country.

  9) Avoid livestock and wildlife drinking spots.
  Crocodiles are patient and learned hunters;
  they know these spots are likely places to find a meal.

  10) Be especially careful during the Sept-Apr. breeding season,
  crocodiles are often more aggressive, territorial,
  and hungry during this time of the year.
  

 

There are two types of crocs here in Australia, besides Queensland’s estuarine type, there is the Johnson, or freshwater croc found in the Kimberley area of Western Australia.

Warning signs have been erected at most spots where crocodiles exist, but as a rule of thumb treat all tidal rivers, creeks and bays in Northern Australia, in the tropics, with extreme caution. Crocodile attacks have killed or seriously injured people in Australia. Be “Crocodile Wise!” Check in with local authorities or the folks at your campground, hotel, or resort before swimming, fishing, boating or camping near tidal rivers, creeks, bays and mangrove shores.

Otherwise, leave the creatures alone in the wild, and enjoy a visit to one of the numerous croc farms or displays. They are the best places to get close-up pictures of the crocodile without being in danger.

~Martin Trip