Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, we know that a giant 4.4 metre crocodile was
captured near Darwin as the water weighs. Well, some are
saying that they are becoming deadlier. The NT News had
reported that, yes, this crocodile over four metres, it's the
eighth over four metres this year as the top end
heat drives hungry saltwater crocodiles to move. Now, joining us
(00:22):
on the line, he's a man that knows exactly what
those crocodiles are up to. His name's Ian Hunt. from
the crocodile management team. He's a senior wildlife ranger. G'day, Ian.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good morning, Katie, and good morning to all your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Lovely to have you on the show, Ian. First off,
tell us about this monster that you guys captured. I
believe it was on Friday last week, or when was it?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, that's correct. It was Friday morning last week. We
received a call from a member of the public to
say that A trap that we got set in Two
Fella Creek over at Mendora, we've actually caught a crocodile.
So our team went out and removed that crocodile and
took it away from the trap. So yeah, he did
actually measure in at 4.4 metres.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Oh, mate, that is massive. How does that compare to
some of the others that you've captured this year?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
That's definitely the biggest one out of the harbour this year.
We have also removed five others over four metres. But yeah,
he's the biggest so far this year from the harbour.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
So what do you do with him? Once he's been captured,
where does he go next?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, so as with all our crocodiles, they'll go straight
to a contractor within the Darwin region. So they're not relocated.
They go straight to a contractor. And I think that
guy is going to live out the rest of his life,
hopefully with a girlfriend. Who knows? But he's a big,
impressive animal. So he'll end up probably on display somewhere, hopefully.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Well, we'll wait and see. I mean, as I said,
absolutely massive. And Talk me through, like, in terms of
the other crocodiles that have been captured. I know you
said that there's been a few in the Darwin Harbour.
Give us a few details.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
So we've got over 23 traps set in and around
the Darwin Harbour every week. This year we've removed crocs
from the Howard River, which have been over four metres.
We've removed crocs from the west arm of the harbour,
which have been over four metres. We've removed crocs from
pretty much any... Any corner of the harbour that's got
(02:22):
a trap in it has the potential to have these
sort of size crocs. But yeah, there's been a few
around this year, definitely.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And in terms of, I guess, the reason why we're
seeing more of them, is there any reason for that?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It could be many reasons, Katie. The numbers do fluctuate
that we remove from the harbour year by year. It's
normally between 250 and 350 a year, but it does fluctuate.
It could have something to do with the The good
wet season that we've had, the lack of a really
good dry season, it didn't really cool off.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Oh, we lost you for a sec, Ian. Are you there?
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Have you got me?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I've got you again. Sorry, mate. I don't know what
happened then. Please continue.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So, yeah, there's obviously been not much of a dry
season this year. It's remained warm for most of the
year and it's starting to get into the build-up already.
So I think the crocs are feeling that and on
the move. probably looking for potential mates and a good
food source as they move around. So we just want
the public to be aware. The harbour's still a place
where you can find large crocodiles, so everybody needs to
(03:25):
be croc-wise and be careful.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Have you found them in any, like any smaller ones
as well, in other, you know, waterholes or areas where
you may not have in the past?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Not in places we haven't found them, because I don't
think there's any waterway in and around Darwin where we
haven't found a crocodile. We're always vigilant and... got our
team out there setting rebating traps um removing crocodiles when
they can so there isn't anywhere that's out of the
ordinary um it's just we've been reminding people that every
waterway can contain crocodiles our team are out there doing
(03:58):
the best possible work they can do but the members
of the public have to make sure they look after
themselves be croc wise and spread that message set a
good example to the kids and make sure they grow
up with uh the Be Crockwise message instilled and keep
themselves safe.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Yeah, because I feel like sometimes we can get a
bit loose with that as well, Ian. You know, like
as the time goes on, if you've lived here for
a long time, sometimes, you know, people do sort of think, oh, okay,
it might be all right to jump in here for
a quick swim if I'm fast. But the reality of
it is there are crocodiles literally everywhere.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Complacency is a big problem. Like I say, that's why
we're out there. We've got our Be Crockwise team out
there doing their their best work they can with the
local community, local schools, local Indigenous communities out to remote
areas as well. But that Be Crockwise message is so important.
We don't want anybody to lose their life. So, yeah,
(04:50):
just remain vigilant. Be wary around every waterway in the
Top End and, say, look after the kids particularly and
grow them up with the message to Be Crockwise and
look after themselves.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Very good advice, I reckon. Senior Wildlife Ranger Ian Hunt says,
from NT Parks and Wildlife. Really good to catch up
with you this morning, mate. I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Thank you for your time, Katie.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Thank you. Thanks so much.
Now, we know that a giant 4.4 metre crocodile was
captured near Darwin as the water weighs. Well, some are
saying that they are becoming deadlier. The NT News had
reported that, yes, this crocodile over four metres, it's the
eighth over four metres this year as the top end
heat drives hungry saltwater crocodiles to move. Now, joining us
(00:22):
on the line, he's a man that knows exactly what
those crocodiles are up to. His name's Ian Hunt. from
the crocodile management team. He's a senior wildlife ranger. G'day, Ian.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good morning, Katie, and good morning to all your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Lovely to have you on the show, Ian. First off,
tell us about this monster that you guys captured. I
believe it was on Friday last week, or when was it?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, that's correct. It was Friday morning last week. We
received a call from a member of the public to
say that A trap that we got set in Two
Fella Creek over at Mendora, we've actually caught a crocodile.
So our team went out and removed that crocodile and
took it away from the trap. So yeah, he did
actually measure in at 4.4 metres.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Oh, mate, that is massive. How does that compare to
some of the others that you've captured this year?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
That's definitely the biggest one out of the harbour this year.
We have also removed five others over four metres. But yeah,
he's the biggest so far this year from the harbour.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
So what do you do with him? Once he's been captured,
where does he go next?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, so as with all our crocodiles, they'll go straight
to a contractor within the Darwin region. So they're not relocated.
They go straight to a contractor. And I think that
guy is going to live out the rest of his life,
hopefully with a girlfriend. Who knows? But he's a big,
impressive animal. So he'll end up probably on display somewhere, hopefully.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Well, we'll wait and see. I mean, as I said,
absolutely massive. And Talk me through, like, in terms of
the other crocodiles that have been captured. I know you
said that there's been a few in the Darwin Harbour.
Give us a few details.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
So we've got over 23 traps set in and around
the Darwin Harbour every week. This year we've removed crocs
from the Howard River, which have been over four metres.
We've removed crocs from the west arm of the harbour,
which have been over four metres. We've removed crocs from
pretty much any... Any corner of the harbour that's got
(02:22):
a trap in it has the potential to have these
sort of size crocs. But yeah, there's been a few
around this year, definitely.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And in terms of, I guess, the reason why we're
seeing more of them, is there any reason for that?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It could be many reasons, Katie. The numbers do fluctuate
that we remove from the harbour year by year. It's
normally between 250 and 350 a year, but it does fluctuate.
It could have something to do with the The good
wet season that we've had, the lack of a really
good dry season, it didn't really cool off.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Oh, we lost you for a sec, Ian. Are you there?
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Have you got me?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I've got you again. Sorry, mate. I don't know what
happened then. Please continue.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So, yeah, there's obviously been not much of a dry
season this year. It's remained warm for most of the
year and it's starting to get into the build-up already.
So I think the crocs are feeling that and on
the move. probably looking for potential mates and a good
food source as they move around. So we just want
the public to be aware. The harbour's still a place
where you can find large crocodiles, so everybody needs to
(03:25):
be croc-wise and be careful.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Have you found them in any, like any smaller ones
as well, in other, you know, waterholes or areas where
you may not have in the past?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Not in places we haven't found them, because I don't
think there's any waterway in and around Darwin where we
haven't found a crocodile. We're always vigilant and... got our
team out there setting rebating traps um removing crocodiles when
they can so there isn't anywhere that's out of the
ordinary um it's just we've been reminding people that every
waterway can contain crocodiles our team are out there doing
(03:58):
the best possible work they can do but the members
of the public have to make sure they look after
themselves be croc wise and spread that message set a
good example to the kids and make sure they grow
up with uh the Be Crockwise message instilled and keep
themselves safe.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Yeah, because I feel like sometimes we can get a
bit loose with that as well, Ian. You know, like
as the time goes on, if you've lived here for
a long time, sometimes, you know, people do sort of think, oh, okay,
it might be all right to jump in here for
a quick swim if I'm fast. But the reality of
it is there are crocodiles literally everywhere.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Complacency is a big problem. Like I say, that's why
we're out there. We've got our Be Crockwise team out
there doing their their best work they can with the
local community, local schools, local Indigenous communities out to remote
areas as well. But that Be Crockwise message is so important.
We don't want anybody to lose their life. So, yeah,
(04:50):
just remain vigilant. Be wary around every waterway in the
Top End and, say, look after the kids particularly and
grow them up with the message to Be Crockwise and
look after themselves.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Very good advice, I reckon. Senior Wildlife Ranger Ian Hunt says,
from NT Parks and Wildlife. Really good to catch up
with you this morning, mate. I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Thank you for your time, Katie.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Thank you. Thanks so much.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.