Pig-Headed Croc Still on the Loose

The Ausrtalian ^ | March 03, 2009

[nickcarraway]

RANGERS will keep trying to catch a four-metre croc lurking in the mangroves of Queensland's Fraser Island, as long as there's a risk to tourists and boaties.

Wildlife officer Rob Allan said the saltwater crocodile is ignoring tasty treats intended to tempt it into two traps along the Great Sandy Strait on the southwest side of the World Heritage listed island.

"We are a bit surprised because each of the two permanently moored traps we've set up have a pig's head in them and the smell of that would go for miles for a crocodile," Mr Allan said.

"It's ignoring them and we don't know why, but this is not a typical croc - he's probably a loner and he's not hemmed in by territorial areas because there's no other crocs in the area."

He said the mangrove area where the croc is believed to be living was brimming with food including barramundi, prawns and squid.

"Maybe he turns up his nose at the pig's head, I don't know, perhaps he's into the gourmet tucker," he said.

Mr Allan said experts in north Queensland had told him it can take months to lure a crocodile into a trap but they had to persevere because of the danger to visitors.

"We reckon there's a pretty substantial risk," he said.

"It's operating in an area that's popular with boaties and people who hire houseboats and some of them are probably urbanites who are not terribly familiar with that kind of country anyway.

"The last thing they're expecting is a crocodile.

"And it's hot and people will want to jump off their houseboat and have a swim - and swimming with a four-metre croc is not ideal."

[VA_Gentleman]

That sounds scarier than ManBearPig. Half-man, Half-bear, half-pig. Get Al Gore on the case. This is super serial.

[Joiseydude]

This thread is useless without pictures.

[ozzymandus]

Pig-headed croc? Barney Frank? John Murtha? Bob Beckel?