Katherine Croc Cruise

You can have a baby croc as a pet when it is very little and cute. After about two years you have to give it back. These are freshies which are found in abundance in the Katherine River. Salties sometimes find their way into the Katherine River but they are caught and relocated. The salties arrive in the Wet when the rivers are all flooded and then get trapped when the floods recede. About 6 salties have found new homes this Dry. I finally went on the Nighttime Dinner Crocodile Spotting Cruise which leaves from Springvale Homestead.

Saw lots of freshies. Just after the boat pulled up on the sandy bank to our barbecue area, Jaws lumbered up onto the bank to await her food. Then we walked a little way along the bank to look at Mouse by torchlight while he had his food. Jaws stayed while we ate but left just before we reboarded the boat. Then the northern snapping turtles turned up and were rewarded with left-over bread rolls. There were also catfish swimming in the water. The spotlight and torches found more crocs on the leisurely cruise back to the homestead. Their eyes glow bright red when the light hits them and there were also lots of bright white eyes on the banks of the river belonging to insects and things.

The railway bridge looks very high but the river rises to just a short distance below it during the Wet. Just after dusk, the flying foxes fly along the river to search for food so they are silhouetted against the darkening sky.