Leaping croc becomes meal

2006-02-02 12:18

Sydney - This was an auto accident with a difference. A 2m saltwater crocodile leapt out of a roadside culvert and slammed into the side of a passing car, authorities said on Thursday.

The crocodile died in the collision and was given to local Aborigines, who ate it, said Garry Lindner, crocodile management officer at the Kakadu National Park in northern Australia.

"It was probably startled and it just leaped in the wrong direction once it heard the vehicle coming," Lindner said. "The driver barely had time to respond and the (crocodile) become a road fatality."

Lindner said at this time of year when northern Australia is drenched by monsoon rains it is common for crocodiles to move about looking for food and a place to bask.

The reptile was able to leap with "all four feet off the ground" because it was still young and agile, Lindner said.

Saltwater crocodiles can grow up to 7m in length.

The incident is the latest in a series of reports of drivers being confronted by crocodiles in Kakadu and has prompted calls for Northern Territory residents to watch for the reptiles when driving near waterways, particularly during the wet season.

- AP