Featured
By What’s On Invers Special Affairs Correspondent
One of this planet’s most vicious and notorious apex predators, the Salt Water Crocodile has been seen in Southern waters.
While not confirmed the alarming discovery can now be reported as different sources have relayed their experiences with the ancient reptiles.
The “Salties” are traditionally found in the much warmer waters around Queensland and northern reaches of Western Australia.
They were on the brink of extinction until the 1970’s when they were declared endangered species. Since then their numbers have flourished beyond all expectations. The ever continuing growth in numbers are seeing them drift further south south along the Queensland coast to find new new food sources and territories.
A couple of sources in the fishing industry have told whatsoninvers that they have had close encounters at sea with crocs in recent months.
One source who spoke on condition of anonymity said they’ve seen the ghostly green eyes just above the water at nights.
The source said they’ve never seen anything remotely like it in these waters.
“It scared the bejesus out out of me and my crew. We just didn’t know what to do. We were just frozen.”
He said on reflection the scariest part was when those eyes disappeared below the water. ‘We just didn’t know where or when the croc would resurface. I’m sure he could smell the fish on the boat.”
We contacted a number of wildlife parks and Crocodile Parks in Queensland. A spokesperson for one would only say “Struth cobber, you could have a problem there. If Salties set up camp on your side of the ditch they’re bloody hard to move along. We’ve seen that over here. They’re bloody everywhere here cobber. Lookout! And if one of them gets a hold of ya, you’re done for.”
The spokesperson continued briefly adding that so long as they’ve got a food source and can have a snooze in the sun, they’re as happy as Larry but added “these blokes are not to be messed with.”
A spokesperson who would also not give their name said it was highly unlikely that a Saltie would be found in the southern waters of New Zealand but added that the way ocean temperatures are warming up, “there’s a big “but.”
Whatsoninvers also spoke to a couple of Aussie marine biologists who initially expressed reluctance to back claims that Saltwater Crocs could either make it across the Tasman or establish themselves in the south of New Zealand.
One added “having said that, these creatures might be descended from the dinosaurs but they’re also highly adaptive.”
In 1989, Scientific American reported a study confirmed another crocodile had been seen literally at the tip of New Zealand’s North Cape.
This Queensland based biologist who also didn’t want to put his name to this article (strange that) said he’s been following closely reports of marine heatwaves in New Zealand’s coastal waters.
The biologist said “well, Croc’s are almost at the point of overcrowding here so with rising sea temps, it’s not an impossibility.” He added “you kiwi’s have abundant food sources like fish, seals even sharks, then they could make themselves at home. They’re not that fussy about what they eat and they can go for days, even weeks without eating a square meal.”
The biologist says one of the things going against Crocs establishing themselves is warming themselves up in the sun here especially in the colder winter months. Then he added a cautious “but……..”
A spokesperson for the Department of Conservation declined to address our claims saying it was deliberate scaremongering and they wouldn’t be part of it.
However another unnamed spokesperson said the department could not comment on any possible sightings as an official alien species form had not been lodged. However on further questioning the spokesperson said they would issue a statement at noon today.
In the meantime, don’t smile for a crocodile.