FaunaClassifieds - Crocodiles more likely to prey on drunksArticle

This is my favorite quote, the "trifecta" guy.

"You may as well hang a dozen pork chops around your neck if you go swimming at night, with a few beers under the belt, with dogs, in croc country."
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Crocodiles more likely to prey on drunks

By Peter Michael
March 12, 2008 11:54pm

CROCODILES are four times more likely to attack drunken locals swimming at night than unwary tourists, it has emerged.

Most of the 19 victims of croc attacks – with five fatalities – in Queensland since 1985 were locals (80 per cent) compared with overseas visitors.

Queensland crocodile expert Dr Mark Read yesterday outlined his research into the disturbing trends of "humans doing stupid things" around crocodiles.

The Townsville-based scientist revealed the winner of "the most stupid act" in croc country was a man who was attacked in 1997 while swimming drunk, at night, with his dog.

"He took out the trifecta," said Dr Read, of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, in a speech to the Museum of Tropical Queensland.

"You may as well hang a dozen pork chops around your neck if you go swimming at night, with a few beers under the belt, with dogs, in croc country."

But the Belgian tourist who was bitten on the knee when he slapped the water to stir a croc up for a better photo at Cape Tribulation was a close contender for the title.

"To put it into context, you only need to look at that recent photo of the guy in the Northern Territory trying to get a croc closer for a photo when it lunged and nearly landed in the boat," Dr Read said.

Most of the attacks were a combination of alcohol, swimming and the dark.

"People are getting cocky and thinking they know what they are doing, which is bad. It is a case of the number of people who continue to swim in known crocodile habitat; in 80 per cent of the attacks people were swimming or wading in these areas.

"About 40 per cent of these attacks were late afternoon or evening when predators like crocodiles are most active and most dangerous.

"The other outstanding factor was 40 per cent of people attacked were acting under the influence of alcohol."

The latest attack was Thursday Island police sergeant Jeff Tanswell, who was bitten on the head on January 8 last year.

The latest victim was Townsville man Barry Jeffries, who was killed by a monster croc in Lakefield National Park in August 2005 while fishing, with his wife, out of a canoe.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...1-3102,00.html