Was a man attacked by a crocodile in Australia?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- A man in his 20s was injured by a crocodile in Queensland.
- The state has a new plan for managing crocodile safety.
- Emergency services quickly responded to the incident.
- Crocodile populations are on the rise in Queensland.
- Public safety measures are being prioritized.
Sydney, Jan 20 (NationPress) A man was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday morning following a crocodile attack in the northeastern state of Queensland, Australia.
Emergency services responded to notifications of an animal-related incident at a waterway near the town of Ingham, situated more than 1,000 km north of Brisbane in the tropical far north of Queensland, around 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday.
A representative from the Queensland Ambulance Service informed the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the victim, a man in his 20s, had sustained puncture wounds to his back, legs, and one hand as a result of the crocodile bite.
He was initially taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition before being airlifted approximately 100 km to a medical facility in Townsville.
In December, the Queensland state government unveiled a new crocodile management strategy that designates wetlands in Ingham as active removal zones for any crocodiles identified by the proactive patrols of the Parks and Wildlife Service, according to a report from Xinhua news agency.
Andrew Powell, Queensland's Minister for the Environment and Tourism, stated that this new strategy aims to enhance public safety.
"Increased patrols and the expansion of removal zones will prioritize safety while balancing crocodile management in Queensland," he noted.
Government estimates suggest that Queensland is home to approximately 30,000 crocodiles, not including hatchlings.
Encounters with saltwater crocodiles are frequently reported in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
Over the past couple of decades, crocodile attacks have become more prevalent as the protected species has seen a resurgence in population, coinciding with the growth of human settlements encroaching upon their habitat.
In Australia, crocodile attacks have claimed the lives of 30 individuals in the last 25 years, with the highest annual toll reaching four in 2014. In contrast, 14 fatalities were recorded due to crocodile attacks from the 1970s until the dawn of the 21st century.