Between a Croc and a Hard Place

Mid-morning, we drove to Adelaide River Jumping Crocs based in a hut beside the Adelaide River. Our guide was Adam, the son of Morgan who had guided us 5 years before.

Adam had retired early to a life of leisure in the Philippines when he received a call relaxing in his hammock, asking if he wanted to take over his father's business because he was retiring. So Adam learnt the ways of the crocodiles. He also managed to get $500k insurance for loss of life or limb.

The river is full of massive crocs, at least 1 croc every 100 metres, the largest known crocs of this estuarine species in the world. Before we even cast off on a cruise where we are the only passengers, big boy, 6m long, 70-year old Dominator and his ladies are swirling around the boat after two days without their chicken nibbles.

Adam deftly manages the boat and his chicken on a pole as he mostly manages to keep croc fights to a minimum.

For us to appreciate the amazing size of these creatures, he pilots the boat onto a mudbank where the crocs slide out of the water up in the mud. We get great photos and a good dousing in mud from the thrashing croc.

In his separate riverbank territory, we see Brutus, at 90-years old, missing a front left leg and no teeth. He is, for now, the patriarch who will eventually starve unless fed by Adam. Croc teeth grow and replace 44 times, after that, the lifespan ends. Close to Brutus, we see a raised croc nest with eggs exposed and very near to hatching. The wary mother lurks nearby and Brutus comes in for backup.

As we return, Adam lobs bits of chicken into the water which are deftly scooped up by whistling kites performing skilful, aerial ballet to skim the surface.

As we pull in to the jetty, Adam momentarily lets his hand stay on top of the guardrail. Quick as a flash, a very aggressive female called Hazel, jumps up, hits the side of the boat and snaps, just missing Adam's finger by an inch. A croc closes its jaws with a terrifying several thousand lbs per sq inch pressure. Hmmm, the insurance may be pricey, but could come in useful!

In 2014, further down the river, a Vietnamese fisherman was snatched and killed by a part albino croc, nicknamed Michael Jackson, whilst the angler was wading in to retrieve a fishing lure.