By D. Maan, Jadetimes News
Tragic Discovery in Search for Missing Child
Australian police have found human remains while searching for a 12 year old believed to be the victim of a crocodile attack. The child was last seen on Tuesday, swimming with family near the remote Aboriginal town of Nganmarriyanga, located about a seven hour drive southwest of Darwin in the Northern Territory (NT). “This is devastating news for the family, the community, and everyone involved in the search,” said Senior Sgt Erica Gibson, adding that police would provide support to everyone impacted.
Intensive Search Efforts
As many as 40 community members assisted police officers in the search for the child, which began shortly after the 12 year old was reported missing. The search efforts included scouring the area by foot, by boat, and with helicopters, covering challenging terrain with thick vegetation and a narrow, winding waterway. Earlier reports mentioned a black crocodile seen in the immediate area, but no details were given on whether the suspected crocodile had been found.
Wildlife Authorities Involved
On Wednesday, NT Police Minister Brent Potter stated that wildlife officers had been authorized to "remove" the crocodile from the area once located, reiterating the government's safety message. "We live in a place where crocodiles occupy our water places... it's just a reminder to stay out of the water as best we can." Saltwater crocodiles, found from Broome in Western Australia to Gladstone in Queensland, were once hunted to near extinction, but their numbers have rebounded since hunting was banned in the 1970s.
Crocodile Attacks in the Region
The Northern Territory is now home to an estimated 100,000 saltwater crocodiles, the highest concentration in the world. Although attacks are uncommon, there have been at least two other crocodile attacks in the NT in the past year. A nine year old boy was injured in January while swimming in Kakadu National Park, and a farmer escaped a crocodile’s jaws by biting it back in October. The NT has not seen a fatal attack since 2018, unlike Queensland, which has had several deadly attacks in recent years, including the death of a 16 year old boy in the Torres Strait in April.
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