WA: Elusive croc found near Cape Farquhar

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2009
WA: Elusive croc found near Cape Farquhar

PERTH, April 12 AAP - An elusive three-metre saltwater crocodile has been found off
Western Australia's northwest after leading wildlife officers on a prolonged chase.

Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) wildlife officers have been chasing
the crocodile since Tuesday when it was spotted near the holiday mecca of Coral Bay, 1,200km
north of Perth.

It was spotted again on Wednesday afternoon but escaped wildlife officers until it
was located by a spotter plane at 3.30pm (WST) on Saturday at Gnaraloo Bay.

Attempts to pinpoint the crocodile failed and by Sunday morning it had travelled about
15km to 25km north to Cape Farquhar, a DEC spokeswoman said.

The crocodile was about 20m offshore and had been hugging the coastline during the
various sightings.

"It's been pretty hard to spot because it keeps diving among the coral but eventually
they spotted it when it came up for breath," the spokeswoman told AAP.

Wildlife officers have put a boat in the water to get to the crocodile and will decide
whether to remove it from the area or destroy it.

Crocodiles are usually not seen as far south as Coral Bay, where tourists flock to
enjoy camping and fishing along the Ningaloo Reef.

DEC had warned visitors to the Ningaloo Marine Park to stay out of the water and keep
away from the water's edge while the crocodile remained at large.

AAP ah/sn

KEYWORD: CROCODILE WA

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