BFF-20 Woman’s body found after Australian crocodile attack

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BFF-20

AUSTRALIA-ANIMAL-CROCODILE

Woman’s body found after Australian crocodile attack

SYDNEY, Oct 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The body of an indigenous women was
recovered by Australian police Friday following a reported crocodile attack
in a remote part of the country’s north.

Police said a women believed to be an Aboriginal ranger had been fishing
“waist-deep” in a river with her family in remote Arnhem Land in the Northen
Territory when she was taken.

A family member noticed her missing, they said, after hearing some
splashing.

Police later confirmed that a body had been recovered.

“The woman’s body and the crocodile were found just before 5:00pm (0730
GMT) less than one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the scene,” Northern Territory
Police said in a statement.

“The crocodile was destroyed by local indigenous rangers and the woman’s
body was recovered.”

Police said it was not yet clear what type of crocodile had taken the
woman.

Australia is home to freshwater and saltwater crocodiles with the more
feared “salties” growing up to seven metres long.

Saltwater crocodile numbers have exploded since they were declared a
protected species in 1971, with recent attacks reigniting debate about
controlling them.

They kill an average of two people each year in Australia.

BSS/AFP/MR/ 1503 hrs