Queensland Crocodiles: Men slammed for wading into croc-infested waters at Cape York with a gun
Two men from Queensland have been arrested for fording the crocodile-infested Jardine River into Cape York with weapons.
A TikTok video posted a month ago has almost 150,000 views and shows the couple swimming up to their hips in water. One man appears to be holding a can of drink, while the other brandishes a gun.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The Queensland men have been accused of entering crocodile-infested waters at Cape York with weapons.
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The video was accompanied by the song Dumb Ways To Die, originally created by Metro Trains Melbourne to promote rail safety but now used as an internet meme.
“Checking the depth of the Jardine River, teeming with crocodiles,” the caption to the video reads.
The comments show that the couple were testing to see if they could cross the river themselves, instead of catching a barge.
Many criticized the man’s actions.
“Two tough-minded non-local people came up here and think they own this place and are doing this kind of nonsense,” commented one person.
Crocs can even get them with a gun.
“A gun won’t protect you,” said another. “You won’t see it, they hunt for a living.”
“That beer guy has a lot of faith in this plan,” another person noted.
The government condemns the behavior
The men’s behavior has been heavily criticized by the Ministry of Environment and Science, with a spokesman stating that DES “does not condone people who ignore Crocwise posts in crocodile country to achieve social media fame.”
“DES wildlife officers are hard at work to equip people with the tools and education they need to be Crocwise, and it’s frustrating when people take unnecessary, life-threatening risks in known crocodile habitat.”
The spokesman also stressed that if the couple shot the crocodile, they would be breaking the law.
“People are reminded that crocodilians in Queensland are a vulnerable species and are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
“Intentionally harming or killing crocodiles or possessing a dead crocodile or parts of a dead crocodile is illegal.
“The maximum fine for intentionally harming or killing crocodiles in Queensland is $32,243.”
days after the tragedy
The backlash comes days after human remains believed to be those of missing Queensland fisherman Kevin Darmody were found inside two crocodiles after he disappeared on another Cape York waterway.
Darmody, 65, was fishing on the Kennedy River in Lakefield on Saturday afternoon when he suddenly disappeared, raising fears that he had been taken by a crocodile.
Darmody was a much loved local who owned the Peninsula Hotel in Lore, a small town in the far north of the Queensland Cape.
“This happened to someone extremely knowledgeable about crocodiles, so stay away from the water’s edges and don’t take anything for granted,” one person wrote on the local community’s Facebook page.
Always look out for crocodiles in Croc Country
According to a DES spokesperson, people should expect to encounter crocodiles anywhere in the water while in Crocodile Country and should stay at least five meters from the water’s edge.
DES urges people to keep their pets on a leash and out of the water, throw food and fish waste in the bin, stay away from crocodile traps, and be especially careful at night and after very high tides or heavy rains.
If you do see a crocodile, stay away and refrain from feeding it. You must also report the sighting as soon as possible.
“Being a Croquise is easy and based on common sense – there’s just no excuse for not being a Croquise in Crocodile Country.”
