Suspected saltwater crocodile takes dog at unexpected outback location

A suspected saltwater crocodile has been reported hundreds of kilometres upstream from its usual habitat after a dog was taken near Richmond, in what experts say would be a rare inland sighting if confirmed.

Richmond Shire Mayor John Wharton said he believed a crocodile took the dog while it was with its owner at the Croydon Road crossing, north of the township, on Monday night.

Richmond is about 660 kilometres from Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria, where saltwater crocodiles are more commonly found.

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation has been notified and is investigating the report. The species of crocodile has not been officially confirmed.

Zoologist Grahame Webb, from Darwin's Crocodylus Park, said a saltwater crocodile travelling that far upstream would be uncommon, but not impossible.

"That would seem unusual, especially if there's no history of them ever seeing a croc up there, but it doesn't mean it's not possible,"

Professor Webb said.

He said there were still "a few ifs" that needed to be confirmed, including whether it was a saltwater crocodile and whether it was responsible for taking the dog.

Cr Wharton said he believed the attack was consistent with the behaviour of a saltwater crocodile rather than the freshwater crocodiles commonly found in the area.

"Freshwater crocs don't do that, and there's plenty of freshies in the river, and no-one's ever concerned about the freshies," he said.

"So, it's got to be a salty."

Professor Webb said investigators should keep an open mind until more evidence was gathered.

He said freshwater crocodiles became more territorial at this time of year and, while uncommon, larger freshwater crocodiles were capable of taking a dog.

However, he said saltwater crocodiles were "renowned for taking dogs".

If the animal proved to be a saltwater crocodile, Professor Webb said recent floodwater could explain how it reached Richmond.

"The upstream movement of saltwater crocodiles is really unpredictable,"

he said.

"There are long-distance movements upstream, but it's usually just the odd animal."

Cr Wharton said recent flooding and high river levels may also have contributed.

"Many years ago, we used to get sawfish up here on the Flinders," he said.

"These things run in big years."

The incident happened at the Bottom Crossing, a popular recreation spot on the Flinders River.

Cr Wharton said a young woman had been chasing pigs with her dog when it entered the water.

"There was a huge noise and splash and the dog was screaming and it was all over,"

he said.

The mayor said the council moved quickly to warn the community because the waterhole was regularly used by families.

"I've just been walking down along the river here now and there's little campfires and motorbike tracks and a lot of kids come down to go swimming," he said.

"We've got to pull them up straight away and it's very dangerous."

Professor Webb urged people to stay out of the river until authorities determined what had happened.

"If someone thinks it may be a saltwater crocodile, I wouldn't be swimming in there until someone checked it out and found out what was going on," he said.

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