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2004109-04-?? .

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habitat. crocodile . launching or retrieving your boat in estuarine estuarine in boat your retrieving or launching .

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ramps so be especially vigilant when when vigilant especially be so ramps .

It is common to see near boat boat near crocodiles see to common is It • .

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aste properly and away from your campsite. your from away and properly aste w

elephone (08) 9143 1488 9143 (08) elephone T .

• Dispose of food scraps, fish offal and other other and offal fish scraps, food of Dispose • .

PO Box 835, Karratha WA 6714 WA Karratha 835, Box PO

. arms and legs! legs! and arms

Pilbara Regional Office Regional Pilbara

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articles over the edge of boats – this includes includes this – boats of edge the over articles

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elephone (08) 9192 1036 9192 (08) elephone T

on logs overhanging water, and do not hang hang not do and water, overhanging logs on .

PO Box 65, Broome WA 6725 WA Broome 65, Box PO .

Do not lean over the edge of a boat or stand stand or boat a of edge the over lean not Do •

. est Kimberley District Office District Kimberley est W

edge when fishing. when edge .

• Stand a few metres back from the water’s water’s the from back metres few a Stand • elephone (08) 9168 4200 9168 (08) elephone T .

. at the water’s edge is dangerous. is edge water’s the at

PO Box 942, Kununurra WA 6743 WA Kununurra 942, Box PO

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Returning daily or regularly to the same spot spot same the to regularly or daily Returning • East Kimberley Regional Office Regional Kimberley East .

. your chores at least 50 metres away. metres 50 least at chores your Land Management Management Land

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camp at the water’s edge. Fill a bucket and do and bucket a Fill edge. water’s the at camp

Department of Conservation and and Conservation of Department .

Do not paddle, clean fish, prepare food or or food prepare fish, clean paddle, not Do •

ON CROCODILES CONTACT: CROCODILES ON .

risk in the water or at the water’s edge. water’s the at or water the in risk .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION FURTHER FOR .

crocodiles. Children and pets are at particular particular at are pets and Children crocodiles.

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. Be aware - keep your eyes open for for open eyes your keep - aware Be •

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immediately if you see one. see you if immediately .

fishing lures are replaceable - life is not. is life human - replaceable are lures fishing

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swim towards boats. Leave the area area the Leave boats. towards swim

fish, or a person splashing in the water. Fish and Fish water. the in splashing person a or fish, .

; they are often inquisitive and may may and inquisitive often are they humans;

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ater’s edge and may be attracted to a struggling a to attracted be may and edge ater’s w

Large estuarine crocodiles have no fear of of fear no have crocodiles estuarine Large •

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remain near the near remain . dry seasons from April to September. to April from seasons dry

crocodiles mostly crocodiles .

connected to the main watercourse during the during watercourse main the to connected .

Estuarine . of these billabongs and pools may not be be not may pools and billabongs these of

. source of food. of source

visiting the area should be aware that some some that aware be should area the visiting

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recognise us as a as us recognise

billabongs a great distance upstream. People People upstream. distance great a billabongs .

crocodiles to crocodiles .

may also inhabit freshwater pools and and pools freshwater inhabit also may

. and teaches and

tidal rivers or deep pools. Estuarine crocodiles Estuarine pools. deep or rivers tidal

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fear of humans of fear

, in boats swim, canoe or use small small use or canoe swim, .

away their natural their away . estuarine crocodile range. If in doubt, do not not do doubt, in If range. crocodile estuarine

Crocodiles . practice that takes that practice

here is potential danger anywhere within the the within anywhere danger potential is here T

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is a foolhardy a is

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. swimming, camping, fishing or boating. or fishing camping, swimming,

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. eeding crocodiles eeding F .

• Seek expert advice about crocodiles before before crocodiles about advice expert Seek •

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DO NOT FEED CROCODILES! FEED NOT DO WISE” “CROCODILE BE TO HOW

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Estuarine crocodiles, ‘salties’.

CROCODILES IN ESTUARINE CROCODILE WESTERN ( porosus) (Crocodylus johnstoni) Two species of crocodile occur in Western Estuarine crocodiles (commonly known as As the name suggests, freshwater crocodiles Australia: the estuarine (or saltwater) crocodile ‘salties’) are most likely to be encountered in (commonly known as ‘freshies’) inhabit and the freshwater crocodile. Both species are tidal rivers and estuaries, billabongs and on the freshwater rivers, creeks, artificial lakes (such as found extensively throughout northern floodplains of the Kimberley. They can also be Argyle and Kununurra) and occasionally tidal Australia, with the estuarine crocodile found in the open sea. Despite what the name areas. They feed mainly on insects, small aquatic extending in the east as far as Townsville in suggests, estuarine crocodiles are not found and fish. . In , known exclusively in saltwater. They are also commonly Compared with the estuarine crocodile, ‘freshies’ crocodile habitat extends south to near Port found in freshwater pools and rivers many are relatively small, are rarely longer than three Hedland. kilometres inland. metres and are not as aggressive. The estuarine crocodile is the largest living . It has been known to grow up to seven metres and is considered to be a dangerous predator. This crocodile has a varied diet but it feeds mainly on fish, waterbirds and occasionally large land , such as . Occipital pattern PRESENT Nuchal pattern ‘Salties’ can be dangerous to humans.

Freshwater crocodile.

Occipital pattern ABSENT Nuchal pattern BIOLOGY CONSERVATION Crocodiles have been on Earth for more than Hunting for skins after 1945 caused a drastic 200 million . They are a very ancient group decline in the crocodile population. In 1962, of whose ancestors were around before freshwater crocodiles were given protection the age of the dinosaurs. They lived through the NESTING from hunting in Western Australia and in 1970 period and successfully survived the protection was given to the estuarine crocodile. The estuarine crocodile usually during the Both species are now well on the way to recovery. great ice age periods of the last two million northern ‘wet’ season from November to April years. Perfectly adapted to their environment, There are two crocodile farms in Western while the freshwater crocodile lays its in today’s crocodiles differ very little from their Australia that take crocodiles from the wild late August or early September. ancient relatives. under licenses based on the guidelines of Both species are territorial and will defend their CALM’s Crocodile Management Program. This nests against intruders. The females construct program helps ensure the survival of crocodiles nests in which hard-shelled eggs are laid and and maintains their role in the ecosystems in incubated. Estuarine crocodiles construct a which they occur. This is accomplished in a vegetation and soil in which up to 50 eggs manner unlikely to cause irreversible changes to are laid. Freshwater crocodiles excavate a hole the species themselves or their habitat. in sand or other soft soil and lay between 13 and 15 eggs. The incubation period is three PROTECTION months for both species. The two species of crocodiles that occur in Many factors affect the survival rate of young Australia are fully protected by state, national crocodiles; only a few ever reach maturity. and international legislation. , killing or Floodwaters may inundate and drown eggs and interfering with crocodiles, their eggs or habitat young crocodiles are often taken as food by is an offence carrying penalties of up to of prey, and dingoes. $10,000. Incidents should be reported to your local CALM office.

WHERE CAN YOU SEE CROCODILE WARNING! PROBLEM CROCODILES CROCODILES? Throughout the Kimberley region and parts of In Western Australia, problem crocodiles are Freshwater crocodiles are relatively common the Pilbara region you may see these signs considered to be those actively presenting within their range. Western Australia probably erected on tracks and roads, or when entering themselves as a threat to humans. The decision has the largest population because of the wide known crocodile habitats. The signs may also be as to what to do with such an is made range of suitable habitats, such as the massive found near boat ramps and at access points to on a case by case basis. When appropriate, Argyle and Kununurra lakes created by the Ord tidal influenced waterways and rivers. problem animals are caught and relocated to River dam system. ‘Freshies’ can be seen However, the absence of a warning sign does one of the crocodile farms. Crocodiles generally throughout the Kimberley in gorges and not signify that it is safe to swim or carry out cannot be relocated to another area due to their freshwater billabongs. Early morning and in the other water based recreation activities such as territorial nature. If released they will invariably afternoon are the best times to see them as canoeing, fishing or boating. return to the spot they were captured. they bask in the sun or float in the shallows When you enter the Kimberley or Pilbara Very often, problem crocodiles are between searching for food. regions, you are entering crocodile country. Seek one-and-a-half and three metres in length, a The estuarine crocodile can be difficult to local advice from your local CALM office and be size category known to be very mobile. Most of observe in the wild, owing to its shy nature. crocodile wise in your behaviour. them would have travelled long distances in However, in certain areas it is possible to see search of safe before entering areas them basking on mud banks and swimming populated by humans. during the day. Do not approach these animals closely. ‘Salties’ can move with amazing speed and are generally much more territorial than their freshwater cousins. Estuarine crocodiles are predators and when entering their habitat the individual takes all the responsibility for personnel safety. Crocodiles always have the advantage, so observe them from a safe distance.