A rogue saltwater crocodile that surfaced at Rainbow Beach may have been pushed south by the wild weather engulfing North Queensland. Rangers are warning people to take care near the water after multiple sightings of the two-metre-long reptile.
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00:00One of the world's most fearsome predators, cruising by in Skip Point, a long way from
00:09home.
00:10Just floating around in the water really.
00:11Chris Kelly captured video of the roving reptile while walking his dogs.
00:16The first time I saw it, you could really tell it was a croc because of the shape of
00:20the tail.
00:21For local fisherman Anthony Simpson, it was the one that got away, thankfully.
00:25He just surfaced for a little bit, boom, boom, and then just froze down and I thought, yeah,
00:31that's not a stick, that's a croc.
00:32Which is a shock in these parts, even to the ranger who confirmed the sightings.
00:37He didn't have his phone on him so he ran back to the vehicle, grabbed the camera.
00:41By the time he got back, the crocodile had slid into the water.
00:44Luckily he was able to get some photos of the claw marks, the slide mark and also the
00:50belly mark.
00:51It's thought to be the same one spotted near Bundaberg last month.
00:55The toothy tourist now making waves further south at Rainbow Beach.
00:59We didn't know it was this far down and yeah, we have been out there swimming and that,
01:03so I know this time I'll be throwing the little lady in first before I get in.
01:07Warning signs are in place, camping is still allowed.
01:11Not really scared but maybe alert, just to be aware and to be prepared and be cautious.
01:17While there is a need for caution in the short term, the experts say this is unlikely to
01:21become an ongoing concern and in Skip Point is a long way off being declared croc country.
01:27After big weather events, crocodiles and all animals can end up in many unusual places.
01:33There's no evidence of a southern expansion of the crocodile population.
01:38Rangers will continue monitoring the site and plan to relocate the reptile, a one way
01:43ticket out for this seafaring salty.