Croc Attacks 5.5M Boat South Alligator River

Submitted: Monday, Mar 05, 2012 at 21:00

ThreadID: 92321 Views:3999 Replies:4 FollowUps:11

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TerraFirma

http://www.news.com.au/national/crocodile-attacks-boat-in-northern-territorys-kakadu/story-e6frfkvr-1226289580564

Lucky they were in a bigger boat otherwise this could have turned out badly.

P.S. Sorry the link insert does not work for me?

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Reply By: Member - Tour Boy ( Bundy QLD) - Monday, Mar 05, 2012 at 21:10

Monday, Mar 05, 2012 at 21:10

I will take a stab at why this may have happened.
Most of these attacks seem to happen when the engine is at low revs or idle. The "purring" of the engine is similar to the noise a male croc makes during the mating season to warn of it's territory. Maybe it puts out the same vibrations in the water.
I remember seeing a video about 4 or 5 years ago of a couple in a tinny who's idling motor got grabbed by an angry 4m croc. They swam for it and the croc wasn't interested in them just the motor. It managed to grab the flywheel thru the cowling and stall it. After the motor stalled the croc just swam away.

Any thoughts? anyone had close encounters in a similar situation?

Cheers,
Dave
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Follow Up By: Wayne david - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 00:40

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 00:40

You may be onto something there because I saw something the other day on TV about alligators in the USA & how they (believe it or not) react to B flat from brass instruments.

I know you can't believe too much of what you see on the idiot box but it sounded right and was set-up as an experiment using a big brass instrument (can't thing of what it's called but it's the bass one.

Sure enough once they hit that note (B flat I believe it was) all the alligators started-up a commotion.

So the vibration theory may have legs. Very scaley ones.

Cheers - Wayne

FollowupID: 755040

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Mar 05, 2012 at 21:39

Monday, Mar 05, 2012 at 21:39

Maybe the croc mistook the boat for a piece of pork dangling from a string?
Easy mistake...

AnswerID: 479577

Reply By: Member Andys Adventures - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 10:54

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 10:54

And only a couple of weeks ago someone was asking if it was OK to use a 10ft tinnie up there. They might change there mind after see this.
Another thing, they called it a rouge croc, ain't all crocs rouges, didn't think you could tame them.

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Follow Up By: TerraFirma - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 12:36

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 12:36

We are going up in June and will be using a 12 foot tinnie as ship to shore from a cruising boat. I'm not sure if this question has been asked before but are you allowed to carry a firearm and use it in cases of emergency? Whilst I respect the croc's sacred right human life comes 1st. I remember the story of that large croc that took a father from a tent, with the elderley woman jumping on it and in the end the son shot it so I presume common sense prevails.

FollowupID: 755069

Follow Up By: Steve - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 13:48

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 13:48

don't know about a rouge croc - maybe it was all the blood on it?

Seen plenty of grey/brown ones around though

;))

FollowupID: 755081

Follow Up By: landseka - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 14:27

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 14:27

All the fear & trepidation amuses me... "should I take a 10 - 12 ft tinny"..tremble shiver etc, all because A croc (one out of thousands) took a human life or chewed on an outboard.

Get over it!

35 people die on Australian roads over a Christmas break, how many people say "..oh dear, can't go out in the car, too dangerous".

Get over it.

If you enjoy fishing, go do it whatever way you can. Life is too short for "what if...."

Cheers Neil

FollowupID: 755087

Follow Up By: Hairy (WA) - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 14:33

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 14:33

Gday,
"Are you allowed to carry a firearm for the purpose of shooting a croc" No
Do people carry firearms for the purpose of shooting crocs? YES
Would I personally carry a firearm for the purpose of shooting a croc" ABSOBLOODYLUTELY!

That bloke at Corroborree Billabong shot the croc after/durring the attack which would make it self defence......just remember if one jumps into the boat, you have to let it grab hold of someone before you do anything about it! LOL

Cheers

FollowupID: 755088

Follow Up By: TerraFirma - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 14:36

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 14:36

Neil, Not sure about fear and trepidation but more like common sense, better to be safe than sorry. I don't believe your message says anything constructive nor is it in the spirit of these forums.

FollowupID: 755089

Follow Up By: landseka - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 14:49

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 14:49

I can't agree in either my comment is not constructive nor that it is not in the spirit of the forums.

I have an opinion and it is my right to express it and my opinion is on a subject that this forum relates to.

All I am trying to say is don't stop enjoying life and doing what you want because something bad happened to someone doing that.

Use common sense of course but - go fishing, go 4x4ing go parachuting, go rock climbing, all these things CAN end badly but we should still do them if we want to.

We would never get out of bed if we had to have a rock solid guarantee that the thing we did was 100% safe.

Cheers Neil

FollowupID: 755091

Follow Up By: TerraFirma - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 15:22

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 15:22

Neil, Nobody wants a 100% guarantee, nobody needs to get over it. Perhaps a quick think before you choose your words might help the spirit if you want to say something.

Quote ""..oh dear, can't go out in the car, too dangerous".

Where did that come from? We are discussing why a croc may have attacked a boat, we don't need all that spun into a lesson into how to live a fun life.

FollowupID: 755093

Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 20:08

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 20:08

Andy

It was me that asked about the 10' tinny at Normanton, but I had already decided it was a bad idea.

FollowupID: 755119

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 22:15

Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012 at 22:15

Crabbing can be fun!!

Pedro

FollowupID: 755144

Follow Up By: Grubby - Wednesday, Mar 07, 2012 at 02:56

Wednesday, Mar 07, 2012 at 02:56

A 'rouge' croc is a term for a male (usually young) that has tried to muscle in and move into an older (male) croc's territory.

FollowupID: 755155

Reply By: tonysmc - Wednesday, Mar 07, 2012 at 12:10

Wednesday, Mar 07, 2012 at 12:10

I was interested in the comment of the boat owner, “They are associating boats with food" ,"Hanging fish over the side is a very risky business." Now why would you even make this comment unless this is what they were doing? I have seen many people do this when bleeding their fish and its any wonder a croc will become interested.

As for the picture above of the croc lunging at the boat, this happened in 2008(fantastic picture) it is also interesting to read the story of that. The man in the picture, Novon Mashiah, 27 said, quote
"One minute I was leaning over the boat teasing it for a picture. The next minute it burst out of the water with incredible speed . . . its jaws fully open. “, "I jumped back and the croc landed on the boat and then slapped into the water.”

Well what do you expect when TEASING a crocodile? Treat them with the respect they deserve and you will be fine.

Cheers Tony

AnswerID: 479744