Reply
Thu 12 May, 2005 05:54 pm
Australian officials kill crocodile mistakenly put into popular swimming area
at 2:57 on May 12, 2005, EST.
PERTH, Australia (AP) - Australian authorities trapped and killed a 1.8-metre saltwater crocodile that was taken from a woman's home and mistakenly released into a popular swimming hole, an official said on Thursday.
Police in the northwestern town of Kununurra removed the crocodile from the woman's home in March, after she found the animal in her laundry room. The crocodile had been left there by a friend of the woman's son. The friend, a licensed crocodile catcher, had apparently planned to take it to a crocodile sanctuary the following day.
Mistaking the man-eating saltwater crocodile for the less-dangerous freshwater species, police released it into the nearby Lily Creek Lagoon, a popular swimming and bird-watching area with a motor-home park and other accommodations on its shores.
After realizing the officers' blunder, wildlife officers set traps around the lagoon and warned residents to stay away.
After two months of tracking the reptile, wildlife official Brad Rushforth said it was found last week about 45 kilometres upstream from where it had been released.
He said officials shot the crocodile after confirming it was the same animal released by police.
the poor thing
Joe(shoot it? Why?)Nation
Easier than trying to trap it. Crocs aren't in short supply anymore.
1.8 meters isn't all that big. Don't they grow to 2 meters and more?
Oh, just great! It's only a freshwater croc. Dump it in my swimming pool, please.
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace