Monster Crocodile at Fogg Dam

I was warned last trip to Fogg Dam about the big crocodile lurking at Fogg Dam.
This photo was taken by a local Brian Hammond and appeared in the Sunday Territorian with this story today: [Note the surname should be Hammond]



Monster croc at popular NT tourist spot

NADJA HAINKE

March 22nd, 2009

A MONSTER croc - believed to be at least 4.5m long - has been spotted lurking near a walkway at a popular Northern Territory tourist reserve.

NEWSBREAKER BRIAN HANNOND, 66, took this picture when he discovered the beast at Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve - about 70km southeast of Darwin - on Friday evening.

Mr Hannond, of Stuart Park, said the saltie was sitting only two metres from where he stopped his car.

"I've never ever seen a croc that size out of the water," he said.

"I didn't get out of the car. But to sit there that close you know why you wouldn't have a chance in the world against him. It's the ultimate killing machine.

"He would be the king of the swamp out there."
r Hannond, a wine seller, said the croc was sitting on the left side of the dam wall walk at the entrance of the reserve - about 100m from the car park.

At the other end of the causeway, he said he spotted another croc.

The reserve is a popular stop for tourists.

Signs warn visitors not to swim in the water because of saltwater crocodiles.

Parks and Wildlife rangers put a trap in the swamps last Friday after they received reports of crocodile more than 3m long in the area.

Croc catcher Robbie Risk urged visitors to be cautious.

"It is a bit of a worry," he said. "People have just got to be wary when they are in the area."

Mr Risk said crocs could enter the dam from Adelaide River during the wet season when waterways flooded.

The sighting comes five days after 11-year-old Briony Goodsell was taken by a crocodile in the access prohibited Black Jungle Conservation Reserve.

Her horrific death and an apparent influx of crocodiles in to Top End urban centers have sparked strident calls for culling.

An NT Government source revealed on Wednesday Parks and Wildlife would cull crocodiles, in particular in the rural area where there is more risk of interaction between crocs and humans.

But Labor MHR Damian Hale in Solomon yesterday opposed plans to immediately cull crocodiles in the Territory.

He said the Government's crocodile management plan had to be reviewed.

Mr Hannond was also against culling the reptiles.

"The crocs have been here before us. People just need to use their brains," he said.
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An update Saturday March 28th , in an email from Fiona Douglas today to NTBirds , a mailing list I am on:
"...Later, on the Fogg Dam wall, near the start in the tree'd section, the most
ENORMOUS crocodile. Don't ignore the warning sign about the dam wall being
closed to walkers. The croc was a good 5-6 metres.
Fiona"