Human remains have been discovered in a Northern Territory creek, which authorities believe were those of a 12-year-old girl who went missing after she was reportedly attacked by a crocodile.
The incident occurred in Mango Creek, which is near the town of Palumpa. A massive search operation was carried out by local authorities, as well as members of the NT Parks and Wildlife.
According to witnesses, they saw a large crocodile in the area. A spokesperson for the Northern Territory Police said that the body parts of the girl were found in the creek on Thursday morning.
The shirt that the girl was wearing when she disappeared was discovered upstream around 6:15 pm on Wednesday.
According to Senior Sergeant Gibson, the incident occurred as the child and her relatives were swimming in the creek near Palumpa, which is about three kilometers from the town.
This area is close to Wadeye, which is a remote community in the Northern Territory. Much of the town’s access road is unsealed.
The police officer stated that the injuries found on the body parts match the description of the crocodile that attacked the girl.
The incident has left the family in a state of shock. It is the first time in three years that a crocodile has killed a person in the Northern Territory.
According to Senior Sergeant Gibson, traps have been placed in the creek, and law enforcers and rangers are keeping track of the animals’ movements.
She said it is important for people to be aware of the presence of crocodiles in the area. The incident has also left the community of Palumpa in a state of shock.
The members of the local community are supporting the family of the victim.
A leading crocodile researcher in Australia has urged the government of the Northern Territory to provide financial support to Indigenous groups to carry out a public safety campaign against crocodiles in remote areas.
He noted that these individuals are the ones who are most familiar with the area’s cultural relationships.
This type of campaign would be very effective, as it would add to the Crocwise package.
Northern Territory’s Chief Minister Eva Lawler also stated that there is still more that needs to be done to prevent such incidents.
According to Ms Lawler, the latest budget for the region included funds for the management of crocodiles.
This includes relocating problematic crocodiles and removing crocodile eggs. She noted that the number of crocodiles in the region cannot surpass the human population.