On our way to Kakadu, having picked up supplies at another enormous Woolworths, we stopped to go on the jumping crocodile cruise – which did exactly what it said!
A big crocodile apparently has a bite pressure of 3400kg – the same as if you were crushed by a truck! In comparison ours is 20kg, a lion 300kg & even TRex only managed 1800kg. Best to stay out of the water then!
Crocodiles used to be shot by trophy hunters until it was banned in the 1970s (there were only 5000 crocs left and you could swim anywhere). Numbers have now recovered to 100,000 – as many crocs as people in the Top End. They consider that’s enough so there’s now a policy of egg removal- up to 80,000 a year: these are then taken to croc farms & eventually turned into leather. The job of taking eggs from a nest protected by the very vigilant mother must be interesting.
There were also lots of kites who sat in a dead tree like big fruit and then swiped down to get meat pieces thrown by the nice lady who feeds the crocodiles.
They told us that kites like to scavenge after a fire to eat the animals who didn’t make it. Also that they have been seen to carry hot embers from a fire & drop them somewhere else in the bush hoping to trigger another fire for more food!
Then we pressed onto Kakadu for our second cruise this Sunday afternoon – Yellow Water cruise. This was completely different – serene, calm and with lots of waterbirds including herons, jacanas, 3 new ducks & 3 kingfishers!
We also saw water buffalo, wallabies, geese, egrets, and yes, lots of crocodiles!
Certainly lots for them to eat here! And beautiful lilies.
On both our cruises they showed us how to use life jackets but then told us that crocodiles are attracted to bright objects so probably best to toss it in one direction and swim in the other!
The sunset on the river was lovely
We like our air conditioned room here – it’s humid and gets up to around 37 in the park! Also fly nets are a good idea!
An excellent dinner at Cooinda lodge – I had barramundi, the local fish, really yummy. The Scottish chef is very good and speaks perfect French! There are lots of French and German tourists here – first time we’ve seen any. Goodnight from Kakadu x
I think David has gone native. Couldn’t he pass as an Australian? Great wild life. I had wanted to go to Kakadu so lovely to see the pictures.
Not so sure I would like the crocodile „jumping „ ! Fascinating all the same . Makes Vienna seem very tame. Love maud