A monster 5.5m saltwater croc named Brutus gave a boatload of tourists a moment they will never forget south of Darwin, last week…and yes, it’s real.
NT News photographer Katrina Bridgeford took this amazing photograph of Brutus, a 5.5m saltwater croc on the Adelaide River, just over 100km south of Darwin, last week.
Ms Bridgeford was on the cruise with sons Jordan, 14, and Dylan Woodward, 11, of Sydney, NSW, four-year-old niece Skye Bridgeford and boyfriend Daniel Wilson.
Son Dylan had only two words when the massive man-eater rose out of the water in front of the group: “Holy crap!”
The huge saltwater crocodile, which is missing its right front leg, is a favourite with tourists on the Adelaide River Jumping Croc Cruises, because he loves his meal of buffalo meat and always puts on a good show for it.
“There was a lot of oohs and aahs and ‘oh my god’,” Ms Bridgeford said.
“I wasn’t expecting anything like this. I couldn’t believe how close it got to us. If you put your hand out, you would’ve touched it.”
Jumping crocodile cruises are a major tourist attraction in the Territory with several operators providing their services along the croc-infested Adelaide River.
But Brutus doesn’t always get it his own way.
Cruise operator Harry Bowman said the 80-year-old crocodile lost his front leg in a shark attack.
It must have been one big shark.
by Robbo Green
