A one-metre salt water crocodile has been found swimming in a public
pool in Palmerston, south of Darwin.
Swimmers discovered the young male saltie lurking amongst them at
Palmerston Leisure Centre's olympic-size pool this morning.
After a quick exodus from the water, police and Parks and Wildlife staff
were called in.
Clay Smith, from the parks service, says the crocodile was placid and
seemed in poor health, making him easier to catch.
Mr Smith says swimmers were not in much danger.
"He'd be dangerous if you grabbed him, he might cause some lacerations
in your hand if you grabbed him, but that'd be about all," Mr Smith said.
Five minutes after the reptile had been netted, lap swimmers were back
in the water.
Mr Smith says the while a salt water source is close by, it would have
been a long and dangerous trek for a juvenile in the crocodile's condition.
The saltie has been taken to a crocodile farm on the outskirts of Darwin. |
