The crocodile - infest water of Australia ’s Kakadu National Park received three unexpected visitors earlier this calendar month when a trio of crookback whale introduce the river . Two of the unexpected sightseers swam into the East Alligator river before short returning to the ocean , but the remaining mortal was spot in the Northern Territory ( NT ) river touch off fears it might get stuck in the shallow waters , a potentially fatal error when there are crocs about .
just how the giant add up to be in the river is n’t clear , though it ’s ostensible they train a improper turn . They were potential on their way to the south to Antarctica when the navigational error occurred , alternatively entering an estuary that lead them up river into a home ground where humpback whales have never been see before . The whales dangle by Australian piddle annually in spring to give birth but return to the cool pee down south to feed . Suffice to say , when Parks Australia spot them in crocodile commonwealth there was considerable concern for the fate of the mobile trio .
“ before this week we became cognizant of a very unusual event at Kakadu National Park – three Humpback giant had entered the East Alligator River , ” Parks Australia write in a recentstatement . “ As far as we ’re aware , this is the first metre this has bump … The last matter we require is a collision between a boat and heavyweight in water where crocodile are prevalent and profile underwater is zero . We also do n’t need gravy holder to unwittingly force the giant further up the river . "
While two escaped fairly rapidly , the third whale took a lilliputian longer to find its way back to the bountiful wild blue yonder . The remaining spider was spotted 30 kilometers ( 18.5 stat mi ) inland by locals on boats prompt officials to intimately monitor its progress as fears come up it could get struck by a boat or stranded on the shallow bank .
Its turgid size was likely enough to protect it from attack in the urine but even the mighty humpback is a tantalizing snack when beached . luckily , the whale seemed to find its way back out again following high tides at the weekend and is believed to have been in expert status when it returned to the Van Diemen Gulf .
" After monitoring the whale this weekend , we ’re entranced to see it has made its means out of Kakadu ’s East Alligator River and into Van Diemen Gulf . The whale made its way out on the mellow tide of this weekend and we ’re pleased it appeared to be in unspoilt experimental condition and not suffering any ill force , " say Feach Moyle , Manager Country and Culture Section at Kakadu National Park , in astatement posted on Facebook .
" We ’re so grateful to Kakadu ’s Traditional Owners , home park staff and scientists from the NT and across the county , who have worked together to manage this very unusual post for a honorable effect . "
" This is great news . It ’s been fantastic working with staff at Kakadu as well as expert scientist to identify room to assist the heavyweight , but I ’m very happy it has found its own way , " articulate Dr Carol Palmer , Senior Scientist with the Northern Territory Government . " This is the very best outcome we could have hop-skip for . "
