Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Disturbing footage has been shared on social media of a
young child playing near the water's edge of croc infested
kay Hills crossing Now. This video was posted to Instagram
by tour company c Around Australia and it shows several
adults and kids hanging around, with a woman and a
child hopping across some rocks to wet a line. Now,
(00:22):
the company took to social media calling out their lack
of regard for safety when it comes to the apex predators. Now.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Joining us on the line is Northern.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Territory Parks and Wildlife Community Engagement Manager Claire ps.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Good morning to you, Claire, good morning and how you.
I'm very well, thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Now. I know that kay Hills as I understand it,
it doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of NT Parks.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
But have you seen that footage?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I certainly have, ca Doi, you certainly have seen footage.
It's been quite widely spread all over all over social media.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yes, it's terra like or it's terrible in the sense this.
You know, they're so close to the water, you can
see those crocodiles everywhere.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I mean, how concerning is this?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
It's fairly concerning. We find that the people of the
Northern Territory are actually pretty good at supporting each other
to be safe around crocodiles and to make safe decisions
about how they behavior around crocodiles. And you know, we
always love to promote the five meter rules. You know,
if you're standing five meters back from the water at
(01:32):
all times, usually you're fairly okay, particularly if there's something
in between you and the water, like you and you've
got a big rock or a or a log or
something like that while you're fishing, particularly when you're fishing
from the bank.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Now, yeah, so talk us through really what some of
those safety measures are. I suppose for a lot of
long time territories they'd be pretty crock wise, but I
reckon it's always good to have a bit of a reminder, Claire.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
It certainly is great to have a reminder. And I
mean the first thing is just to be aware that
the crocodiles are in our top end waterways. And that's
in all of our top end waterways, so you know,
that's Darwin Harbor and all of our major rivers, right
down to the smallest water culvert on the side of
the road. So just be aware that the salt water
crocodiles are around and that's their home and they're going
(02:22):
to be there. The next one is that they're really common.
You know, people we used to shoot them back in
the day, and you know, luckily we decided that wasn't
a great idea because they almost became extinct and they
are a very important part of an orderentarity landscape, both culturally,
(02:43):
economically and ecologically. So crocodiles are protected and they are
now back to where they should be. So, you know, crocodiles,
there's more crocodiles in the lad And Territory than they
were when I was a kid. I know that much.
It's because we've actually had a massive environmental success story
(03:03):
and we're looking after crocodiles really well. So just be
aware that they're there. And then the next thing is
to really have a good thing about what you're doing
when you're out on the water or you know, going
for a swim or standing on the bank fishing. You know,
we can fuild all these wonderful things that pardon pass
(03:24):
or of the Northern Territory lifestyle, but we go swimming.
Where crocodile management has been done to make it, you know,
an okay place to be hopping into the water at
certain times of the year. Yes, we stand five meters
back from the water when we are fishing from the bank,
or you know, when we're looking at our beautiful rivers
(03:45):
or bird watching even or when we're camping, you know,
camp as far back from the water as possible. We
have had a few incidents where people have woken up
to crocodiles wandering around camp.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Oh, that would not be a fun way to wake
up clan.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
No, that would be completely this concerting, wouldn't it. And
of course when you're fishing from a boat, you know,
be very very aware of of your hands and feet
and body going anywhere near the water. You use a
gaff or a net to retrieve your fish, and you know,
be very very careful when you're releasing. Don't counter and release,
(04:21):
you know, do that in a safe way as well too.
And what we always say as well is to keep
your eyes on your kids at all times when you're
around the water, and make sure you clean up after
you you know, take your whole fish home. Don't leave
any fishing rubbish or anything like that hanging around, particularly
(04:44):
around boat ramps because crocodiles are quite clever and they
get to know where they can pick up a free feed,
so you know, clean up all your fishing scraps. That's
another another really great thing to do.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, clear.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
I mean, do you reckon, like when you see that
kind of behavior, or when you see people that are
really close to the water like that, do you reckon?
You know, do you think it's just a matter of
there being tourists and maybe they're just not aware or
what do you think? You know, it goes through people's
brains because I guess for some of us locally, we
just think, oh my goodness, I wouldn't go anywhere near that.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it. That the whole tourism thing
we're finding that a lot of tourists actually come up with.
They're really quite excited around crocodiles, about crocodiles, yep, and
they desperately want to see them. You know. That's why
a lot of our tourists actually come to the Northern
Territory is to see these magnificent animals in the wild,
and so sometimes they can actually be more aware. But
(05:41):
where we I think sometimes fall down is we're not
helping each other make the right decision. And so a
tourist might come to the Northern Territory and they might
see a local doing something that perhaps is a bit
more dangerous than, you know, what they otherwise could be doing,
and then the tourists will actually be copying what the
(06:03):
locals are doing. And I find that that's where we
run into dramas. And what we would love to to
really encourage everybody to do is to help each other
make those wonderfully safe decisions and so we can all
be sensible and safe when we're living in crocodile habitats.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, fair cool.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Hey, before I let you go, Claire, I know that
you know there are some locations around the top end
at the moment where plenty of people ask for me.
My understanding is that there are lifeguards patrolling some of
those areas, like Nightcliffe Beach for example, where at different
times we have spotted crocs in those areas. So what
(06:45):
is the situation at this time of the year. Are
some of those different areas patrolled, Katie?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
That's probably you know, if it's not on a park, Oh.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
We can double check, Yeah, we can follow that.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
But you know what, we always what we always really
try and do is say to people to encourage each
other to make safe and sensible decisions when they are
in crocodile habitat. And again, you know, crocodiles are found
throughout top end waterways, and to remember that we've got
some wonderful national parks and reserves in the Northern Territory
(07:21):
where swimming areas are managed for salt water crocodiles and
have very intensive management management programs. And those swimming areas
can actually be found on the Northern Turretory Park's website.
People can find all of those areas where where we
do manage for saltwater crocodiles and they can go swimming there.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, good stuff for Claire ps NT Parks and Wildlife
Community Engagement Manager.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Good to speak with you this morning. Thanks so much
for your time.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Thank you so much, Katie, Thank you
Well.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Disturbing footage has been shared on social media of a
young child playing near the water's edge of croc infested
kay Hills crossing Now. This video was posted to Instagram
by tour company c Around Australia and it shows several
adults and kids hanging around, with a woman and a
child hopping across some rocks to wet a line. Now,
(00:22):
the company took to social media calling out their lack
of regard for safety when it comes to the apex predators. Now.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Joining us on the line is Northern.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Territory Parks and Wildlife Community Engagement Manager Claire ps.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Good morning to you, Claire, good morning and how you.
I'm very well, thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Now. I know that kay Hills as I understand it,
it doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of NT Parks.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
But have you seen that footage?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I certainly have, ca Doi, you certainly have seen footage.
It's been quite widely spread all over all over social media.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yes, it's terra like or it's terrible in the sense this.
You know, they're so close to the water, you can
see those crocodiles everywhere.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I mean, how concerning is this?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
It's fairly concerning. We find that the people of the
Northern Territory are actually pretty good at supporting each other
to be safe around crocodiles and to make safe decisions
about how they behavior around crocodiles. And you know, we
always love to promote the five meter rules. You know,
if you're standing five meters back from the water at
(01:32):
all times, usually you're fairly okay, particularly if there's something
in between you and the water, like you and you've
got a big rock or a or a log or
something like that while you're fishing, particularly when you're fishing
from the bank.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Now, yeah, so talk us through really what some of
those safety measures are. I suppose for a lot of
long time territories they'd be pretty crock wise, but I
reckon it's always good to have a bit of a reminder, Claire.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
It certainly is great to have a reminder. And I
mean the first thing is just to be aware that
the crocodiles are in our top end waterways. And that's
in all of our top end waterways, so you know,
that's Darwin Harbor and all of our major rivers, right
down to the smallest water culvert on the side of
the road. So just be aware that the salt water
crocodiles are around and that's their home and they're going
(02:22):
to be there. The next one is that they're really common.
You know, people we used to shoot them back in
the day, and you know, luckily we decided that wasn't
a great idea because they almost became extinct and they
are a very important part of an orderentarity landscape, both culturally,
(02:43):
economically and ecologically. So crocodiles are protected and they are
now back to where they should be. So, you know, crocodiles,
there's more crocodiles in the lad And Territory than they
were when I was a kid. I know that much.
It's because we've actually had a massive environmental success story
(03:03):
and we're looking after crocodiles really well. So just be
aware that they're there. And then the next thing is
to really have a good thing about what you're doing
when you're out on the water or you know, going
for a swim or standing on the bank fishing. You know,
we can fuild all these wonderful things that pardon pass
(03:24):
or of the Northern Territory lifestyle, but we go swimming.
Where crocodile management has been done to make it, you know,
an okay place to be hopping into the water at
certain times of the year. Yes, we stand five meters
back from the water when we are fishing from the bank,
or you know, when we're looking at our beautiful rivers
(03:45):
or bird watching even or when we're camping, you know,
camp as far back from the water as possible. We
have had a few incidents where people have woken up
to crocodiles wandering around camp.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Oh, that would not be a fun way to wake
up clan.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
No, that would be completely this concerting, wouldn't it. And
of course when you're fishing from a boat, you know,
be very very aware of of your hands and feet
and body going anywhere near the water. You use a
gaff or a net to retrieve your fish, and you know,
be very very careful when you're releasing. Don't counter and release,
(04:21):
you know, do that in a safe way as well too.
And what we always say as well is to keep
your eyes on your kids at all times when you're
around the water, and make sure you clean up after
you you know, take your whole fish home. Don't leave
any fishing rubbish or anything like that hanging around, particularly
(04:44):
around boat ramps because crocodiles are quite clever and they
get to know where they can pick up a free feed,
so you know, clean up all your fishing scraps. That's
another another really great thing to do.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, clear.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
I mean, do you reckon, like when you see that
kind of behavior, or when you see people that are
really close to the water like that, do you reckon?
You know, do you think it's just a matter of
there being tourists and maybe they're just not aware or
what do you think? You know, it goes through people's
brains because I guess for some of us locally, we
just think, oh my goodness, I wouldn't go anywhere near that.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it. That the whole tourism thing
we're finding that a lot of tourists actually come up with.
They're really quite excited around crocodiles, about crocodiles, yep, and
they desperately want to see them. You know. That's why
a lot of our tourists actually come to the Northern
Territory is to see these magnificent animals in the wild,
and so sometimes they can actually be more aware. But
(05:41):
where we I think sometimes fall down is we're not
helping each other make the right decision. And so a
tourist might come to the Northern Territory and they might
see a local doing something that perhaps is a bit
more dangerous than, you know, what they otherwise could be doing,
and then the tourists will actually be copying what the
(06:03):
locals are doing. And I find that that's where we
run into dramas. And what we would love to to
really encourage everybody to do is to help each other
make those wonderfully safe decisions and so we can all
be sensible and safe when we're living in crocodile habitats.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, fair cool.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Hey, before I let you go, Claire, I know that
you know there are some locations around the top end
at the moment where plenty of people ask for me.
My understanding is that there are lifeguards patrolling some of
those areas, like Nightcliffe Beach for example, where at different
times we have spotted crocs in those areas. So what
(06:45):
is the situation at this time of the year. Are
some of those different areas patrolled, Katie?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
That's probably you know, if it's not on a park, Oh.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
We can double check, Yeah, we can follow that.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
But you know what, we always what we always really
try and do is say to people to encourage each
other to make safe and sensible decisions when they are
in crocodile habitat. And again, you know, crocodiles are found
throughout top end waterways, and to remember that we've got
some wonderful national parks and reserves in the Northern Territory
(07:21):
where swimming areas are managed for salt water crocodiles and
have very intensive management management programs. And those swimming areas
can actually be found on the Northern Turretory Park's website.
People can find all of those areas where where we
do manage for saltwater crocodiles and they can go swimming there.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, good stuff for Claire ps NT Parks and Wildlife
Community Engagement Manager.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Good to speak with you this morning. Thanks so much
for your time.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Thank you so much, Katie, Thank you
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