Croc sighted in Ashburton River
Thursday, 1 June 2006. 07:21 (AWST)
Tourists have spotted a saltwater crocodile in the Ashburton River at Onslow.
Authorities believe it is the same 3.5 metre reptile that has been seen several times in the past year.
Local police say as soon as the flooded roads reopen they will drive to the river and try to check for themselves.
The Shire of Ashburton's manager of western operations, Amanda O'Halloran, says there are signs in the area warning people to watch out for the local croc.
Ms O'Halloran says most people know the basic precautions.
"You need to be very aware that swimming and those sorts of things probably aren't considered to be completely safe, but I think the best thing to do is to just try and stay away from the region and be aware of its presence," she said.
Anyone seen the resident croc or ever heard of it's presence? Why would a croc be so far south?
.thumbnail.JPG "Matilda Bay Crabs")
Maverick
Posts: 1260
Date Joined: 06/06/06
HMM>>>>
probably wants the first go at the grey nomads travelling up that way .
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Fly
Posts: 485
Date Joined: 04/02/06
Further south
Crocks were further south than the Ashburton in past times!
Heavey commercial hunting pressure all but drove them out of the Pilbara with some of the last crocks being shot out commercially in the late 1960's by all accounts!
It is only natural that as they have been protected now for so long and are breeding up that they extend their range to reduce pressure on now overpopulated rivers in the Kimberley!
We know they swim at sea well.
Why wouldn't they come back to habitat they once populated before?
The thing is - with global warnming, Mud Crabs in Augusta, and so on - why wouldn't crocs eventually come to say the Gascoyne if allowed too?
I recall wade fly fishing on Legendre Island off the Burrup Penninsular with all those mangroves at my back and tropics blacktip & bull sharks etc showing unhealthy levels of interest in me, but I was MUCH more worried about what might be lurking in those muddy mangrove banks behind me if the truth were known!
I looked bloody hard for any signs of mudslides I can tell you and got outta there at the first opportunity! It was too spooky for my liking - the hairs on the back my neck never went down the whole time I was wading let me tell you!
Think of all the Mangroves onshore below Carnarvon, and into the Eastern Gulf at Shark bay - Mangroves on Abrolhos Islands- heck - theres even mangroves in Bunbury opposite the Parade hotel!
How long before we see a big salty sliding into Koombana bay in Bunbury!?
All but a question of time IMHO!
Cheers!
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15648
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Agree
Well, we've found mudcrabs as far south as Denmark, so I wouldn't be too suprised if crocs did move down this way. People have reported mangrove jacks in Mindarie Marina before, and I saw a photo of a Red Throat Emperor caught off Mindarie this weekend. Heres hoping a few more northern species keep heading this way. :)))
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jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
Well, we've found mudcrabs
Well, we've found mudcrabs as far south as Denmark, so I wouldn't be too suprised if crocs did move down this way.Crabs are crustaceans though, crocs are cold blooded reptiles. I don't think the earth warming up by a couple of degrees is going to allow crocs to survive so far south. Ashburton river is understandable and you might start to see quite a few around the pilbara but I wouldnt think you'd get them all the way down there.
streetfighter80
Posts: 1079
Date Joined: 12/02/06
and what about the killer
and what about the killer whales behind rotto no one mentioned them
frizza
Posts: 212
Date Joined: 08/09/05
croc's in the ashy
i don't know about you guy's but i would be more worried about the bull sharks that are in the area in bigger numbers then just one .
mitch
Posts: 1285
Date Joined: 14/08/05
everywhere
theres deffinatly crocs about the pilbra .there like mice if ya see 1 theres probably 10 you dont see. so my advice would be dont go into the pilbra creeks camping or any of the inshore islands its way to DANGEROUS.best just dont go there at all .more fish for me .hehehehehehe!!!!!!!!!!!
always in it just the depth that varies
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
I've never sighted one in
I've never sighted one in the pilbara before... I don't doubt the fact that there was once alot more here (before the hunting etc..). We always go swimming in the pilbara creeks :(
Spooled
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 06/08/05
We tend to hear more about
We tend to hear more about croc sightings around cyclone season between December and April. After a very good blow and big spring tides they tend to have more sightings further south. This year they have had sightings around Onslow, and even as far south as Exmouth and some were hinted to have been seen down near Carnarvon. But they are all rumours. I know we have had warnings from the harbour master in Port Hedland of crocs entering the harbour.
I hope they stay further north, it's a definite benfit feeling confident enough to fish from the banks and go throw netting without a worry.
Spooled
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
I hope they stay further
I hope they stay further north, it's a definite benfit feeling confident enough to fish from the banks and go throw netting without a worry.Yeah definately, it would suck to have to worry about crocs when fishing land based or cast netting.
mitch
Posts: 1285
Date Joined: 14/08/05
there coming
there coming no dout about it .just like the cane toad .if the pilbra gets a cyclone season like the last one i think there will be more sightings of toads and crocs .the small males at first but once they get territorial and grow a bit[ crocs that is] you will adapt .[they still throw cast nets in the territory and still fish of the banks .we will just have to get use to the fact that we arnt at the top of the food chain when fishing in the pilbra creeks.jmo
always in it just the depth that varies
frizza
Posts: 212
Date Joined: 08/09/05
to true
the only people more scared of cane toads then western australians are n.s.w coz we are going to flog them in the state of origin .
anyway i agree mitch they are comming and if you are like us and tend to throw your carcus's in front of camp or at boat ramps then you will need to change your ways or we will not only be sighting them .