Crocodile in search of a meal

Tuesday, 19 August 2003. We flew into Mt Borradaile in western Arnhem Land, the largest Aboriginal reserve in Australia. Access is normally by twin-engine plane from Darwin or Kakadu. Visitor numbers are strictly limited and by permit only, arranged prior to arrival with the Aboriginal custodians.

While at Mt Borradaile, we visited sites with stunning rock paintings (the subject of a forthcoming post). To get there, we were taken on a flat-bottom boat through extensive wetlands teeming with birdlife, saltwater crocodiles, and other creatures.

Here a 3-metre crocodile moves leisurely away from the boat, seeking peace and, probably, a meal. Given the huge flocks of birds in the swamp (second photo), the croc doesn’t need to work very hard to keep well fed.

A write-up on this part of our 2003 trip is here.

Saltwater crocodile

Flock of birds