If one crocodile is a fearsome prospect, well how about 80 of them? An annual feeding event in Kakadu brings in masses of the apex predators and is a major drawcard for tourism in the Northern Territory. But park rangers say people are still not heeding warnings of crocodile danger and it's less often the tourists that are the problem.
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00:00 The rapacious reptiles jostle for the best position along the notorious Cahill's crossing.
00:07 The high tides at the end of the dry season promise to deliver a tasty meal.
00:18 Behind us can be up to 70, 80 crocodiles this time of year. The surrounding waterways recede
00:24 and crocs migrate into the river. But combined with that is also a bigger biomass of fish
00:30 that's congregating and therefore crocs are taking that opportunity to feed on those fish.
00:37 The event has been immortalised by naturalist royalty David Attenborough and draws people
00:43 the world over.
00:44 It's crazy to see this kind of thing, especially for French people. We're not used to this
00:49 kind of animal.
00:50 Big ass animal, wild animal as well.
00:53 After the feeding frenzy the crocs begin to dissipate. But rangers warn that though they
00:57 are out of sight they should not be out of mind. Park staff say they see dangerous behaviour
01:03 from people on almost a daily basis. And more often than not it is locals who are taking
01:10 the biggest risks.
01:11 The attitude is it's not going to happen to me. A crocodile submerges and you can't see
01:16 it. You don't know where it is, what it's doing. And that places everything at a crocodile's
01:20 advantage.
01:22 Locals say it is easy to become complacent when so much time can be spent on the water
01:26 without incident and the occasional small risks are par for the course.
01:31 You do get a bit complacent and sometimes you can get a bit silly. Go hunting, fishing,
01:36 you need that lure that you just lost on the rock. It's right there, I can see it, I'll
01:39 get it.
01:40 But others are often witnessed doing far more dangerous things.
01:44 With the local fishermen they get in the water at night time, knee deep water, stand in the
01:48 middle of the crossing. But one day, unfortunately, someone's going to get grabbed.
01:52 But Mr Lidner says despite the risks it's important to understand the value that crocs
01:57 have in the territory and that keeping people informed is key to keeping them safe.
02:03 It's a constant effort of education.
02:06 Enjoy watching them have a meal and don't let them make a meal out of you.
02:11 [water lapping]
02:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]