Croc found floating in drain dies

The two-metre estuarine crocodile that brought traffic on Broome’s main road to a standstill when it was spotted floating in water alongside a drain has died.

The reptile had swum through the mangroves and a concrete pipe on a 10.1 metre-high tide and ended up on the airport side of Broome Highway on Wednesday. SEP30

Police were forced to close one lane of the two-lane highway as Yawuru Rangers hauled the animal to the verge and onto a waiting utility.

It was taken in an “emaciated” condition to the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park just outside of Broome just hours after another estuarine crocodile was captured at Cable Beach and taken to the same location.

The 3m reptile was doing well on Monday but the smaller animal died the day after its capture on Thursday.OCT1

The Department of Parks and Wildlife said at the time the animal had wounds from fights with other crocodiles and would need veterinary care.