Giant crocodile takes to surf, prompting beach closure in Australia

Experts hope to capture and relocate 12-foot reptile, to keep waters safe

by Pete Thomas

Photo showing giant crocodile in surf at Cable Beach is courtesy of Sharon Scoble.

It’s hard to imagine a creature more menacing than a great white shark swimming in the surf, but a giant crocodile comes close.
An estimated 12-foot crocodile was spotted cruising in the swells this past week at Cable Beach in Broome, Western Australia, prompting officials to close the beach to swimmers and surfers for a day.
It’s unclear what lured the reptile into the surf zone, but the unusual sighting generated quite the spectacle.

Photo showing giant crocodile in surf at Cable Beach is courtesy of Sharon Scoble.

Sharon Scoble, a Broome local, captured the images that accompany this report after receiving a call from her son, who spotted the croc while driving to the beach.
Scoble told Perth Now: “It was absolutely awesome. But it wouldn’t have been so awesome if I was swimming and noticed it.”
The croc remained in the surf zone for most of the day, before presumably finding its way back to one of the creeks. (The Broome region’s saltwater crocodiles typically remain in inland waterways.)

Photo showing giant crocodile in surf at Cable Beach is courtesy of Sharon Scoble.

“Rangers were making sure no one was going near it,” Scoble said.
Dave Woods, a Parks and Wildlife officer, said this croc might be the same animal that appeared in the surf in December.
Woods added that the croc has been targeted for capture and will be relocated to a remote wilderness park, leaving Cable Beach swimmers with only one genuine worry: sharks.