Fear for kids as crocodile and man steal their safety
October 29th 2007 by Megan Bayliss in Child Safety & Protection
Headlines of The Cairns Post today: Hunt for child predator and Fear for kids as croc feasts on dog.
An aggressive 2 meter crocodile has been cheered on by a group of children sitting on the bank of a suburban water way in Cairns, Australia. The croc was seen chomping on a dead dog and lunged to take a bird off the side of the bank.
Allegedly, as the man eater dined, a group of children played beside the water way and in childlike curiosity and amazement, watched the hungry crocodile feast. Reports indicate that adults were present but that no attempts were made to move children to safer vantage points away from waters edge. One worried adult stated that they witnessed a child playfully pretend to push another child into the water.
The second headline (albeit the major headline) draws attention to a child abduction attempt at a local market. Thankfully, the little girl escaped the clutches of the predator and ran to safety.
Out of curiosity, what are the headlines of your local paper today? And, which predator would you consider to pose the greater risk to children: a crocodile or a child abductor?
More Cairns news about a different Croc on a different day: Croc found in city centre drain
Stumble it!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
iIt’s nsane …who is protecting the children.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Hi Megan, how shocking these articles are, obviously the crocodile is used as the big scare for eveyone, but the reality of it is, is that there are those human crocodiles all around. I think most people take these things for granted these days. Keep safe. P.S thanks for your visit
October 30th, 2007 at 6:19 am
it’s interesting that in png and other first nations children often swim together in waters with crocs swiming by. however, it is clear when viewing such footage that adults are present and that the children have been instructed in way s to live with crocs~ safety behaviours.
while we continue to dump our mcdonalds and home trash into nearby drains that provides food, to build atop croc habitat that necessitates that they move elsewhere, and do not modify our lifestyles and cityscapes to global warming changes (crocs love the humid hot weather and rising watertables), crocs will continue to be a danger issue for our kids (and us, but mostly the kids cause crocs as cowards will go for the smallest critter).
October 30th, 2007 at 9:24 am
BA - I am distressed that our kids seem to get worth less and less. I am sure there must have been some adults there who tried to shoo the kids back from the edge but it just hasn’t been reported. At least one onlooker said she was concerned. It’s a bit like child abuse though. Lots of people know in their head they are against it but they keep their thoughts private. If they spoke out and articulated their thoughts against abuse then the way we collectively view kids may begin to change. Thinking something does not make it happen.
John - lovely to hear from you. You have sensed the point - human crocodiles stalk our kids every day and very few of us are vigilant. We have become accustomed to danger and stalking. Child killings and abductions stay news only while they are highlighted by the media. This croc however, will be talk for a long time to come.
Char - did you know I was born and bred in PNG. I saw some big mother crocs there. I am TERRIFIED of them. Some of the villages used to have rather interesting crocodile strategies and ways of dealing with the old and frail villagers.! There was recently a 3 year old taken off the bank. Apparently her mother grabbed her but the croc was much stronger. My heart bleeds for that family. How terrible to witness your child taken.
How terrible that our children are at danger of predators…either of the animal or human variety.
November 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
I wouldn’t want my kid near a crocodile of either variety you mention, although the scaly kind is easier to spot.
Thanks for participating in this week’s All women blogging carnival.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Megan, neither circumstance should be tolerated. We have to protect our children. Thanks for your efforts to do this.