crocodiles

I am not sure if the following story is related to the photo, yet it seems interesting: A tale about a monster crocodile, that would be the biggest in history is true, claims a pensioner whose late father told him stories of seeing the beast. Doubt has long surrounded claims a 9.7-metre croc - a world record - was shot dead as it lay on the banks of a river at Mackay, in north Queensland, in the 1880s. But Greg Ellul claims his late father Joe told him stories of paying sixpence to go with his grandfather to see the dead croc's skin hanging in a pub in the 1920s or 1930s. According to reports, the reptile was shot with a high-powered rifle from the balcony of the Leichardt Hotel, which overlooked the Pioneer River. Mr Ellul, who is now 70, says his father would often recall going to view the massive skin stretched across the pub. 'Grandad took Pop to see it one day and it cost them a sixpence,' Mr Elull told Daily Mail Australia. 'He said it was 33ft and when they went into the pub the skin was right across a wall and the tail stretched onto another wall. 'His father took him to go and see it and he used to tell me it was shot in the Pioneer River on a sandbar at low tide from the Leichardt Hotel.' A black and white photo of a massive beast lying dead on the banks of the river with rope around its mouth resurfaced earlier this year. Source: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5173771/Monster-crocodil...

This is one of some newer stories about the giant crocodile Howard, from the same area of Bamboo Creek. This time is not at all about killing a crocodile. Giant crocodile, Howard, has 10yo Elroy on his side — fighting for him to remain on creek bank ABC Far North / By Kristy Sexton-McGrath A 10-year-old boy has penned a letter pleading with authorities not to touch a giant crocodile that has been targeted for removal. The 4-metre crocodile, known as Howard, has long been part of the small community of Miallo, north of Cairns, in far north Queensland. But the State's Environment Department has now set a trap after a resident complained that Howard had been sunning himself on a creek bank that backs onto homes. Schoolboy Elroy Woods said he had written to the State's Environment Minister, Leeanne Enoch, asking for the trap to be removed. "I lived at Bamboo Creek Road for five years, right on Saltwater Creek," he wrote. "I loved watching Howard the crocodile sunbake and enjoyed seeing him from the bridge every afternoon." "I'm very saddened that Howard is being moved away from his home and I don't understand why a trap is there for Howard," he said in the letter. Not a problem croc Elroy is not the only resident to come to Howard's defence — resident and tourism operator David White said Howard had never been a problem. "I know sometimes crocodiles have to be removed because they stalk people and boats, but Howard's never done that," Mr White said. "This crocodile is in a saltwater creek where no one swims." He also said removing a big, dominant crocodile could see other, more aggressive crocodiles take over the area. Elroy's mother, Melissa Hills, said she hoped her son's letter would make it to Ms Enoch. "I was tidying up his room when I found it and we decided to post it," Ms Hills said. Elroy said he was "very careful" around crocodiles. "I always stand back at least 6 metres from the water's edge and don't go near the water at all when it is dark." Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-03/boy-pleads-for-minister-to...

Who were Australia's original crocodile hunters? By Bridget Judd Updated 17 Jul 2018, 12:54pm Crocodile hunting in the Top End was first pioneered by Indigenous Australians, but it's the beer-swilling, knife-wielding macho men of the Northern Territory whose presence has been etched into popular culture. So just who were these daredevils that would come to typify outback Australia? And what happened to them? "I've never been to the NT, but being a keen hunter and experienced bushman, I loved Keith Willey's book Crocodile Hunt from the moment I rescued it from the library throw-out bin," says Curious Darwin questioner Anthony Story. The book tells the tale of the old-school Top End crocodile hunters, documented in the swamp plains of the South Alligator River, bordering Arnhem Land. Willey teamed up with Bill Dean, a professional crocodile shooter, and together, they explore what life was really like on the buffalo plains. The croc-hunting industry really rose to notoriety in the 1950s and 60s, around the time Willey's book was written and published when scores of hunters made their way to the Top End in search of a quick buck. A group of men pull aboard two crocodiles in the Daly River in 1934. PHOTO: Hunters haul in crocodiles along the Daly River. (Supplied: Territory Stories) Tracking down these old timers poses its challenges. Many safari hunting camps went bust when crocodile hunting was outlawed in the NT in 1971, after the animals were hunted almost to extinction, and most — if not all — of the old-school hunters have since passed away. Source: www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1UEAD_en-gbAU966AU966&sxs....