Crocodile stalks New Zealander for a fortnight

[Cormac]

Maybe he could have used a mobile phone (cell phone to you colonials) ... not to call for help, but to scare the croc. After all, it works with Polar Bears:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24022893

Collector said something earlier in the thread that I can agree to to a certain extent. People doing these sorts of adventurous activities should be prepared and self-reliant, not dependent on others (or government agencies) to get them out of trouble.

However, in this situation, a gun was not the correct form of preparation. You don't protect yourself against crocodile attack in northern Australia with a firearm, but by sensible behaviour and the right equipment (in this case, a run-about with an outboard motor instead of a canoe). By being alert, camping a fair distance from the waters edge, having plenty of water etc, one could enjoy being Robinson Crusoe on one of these isolated island. (BTW, crocodiles are a protected species, shooting them is against the law as well as unnecessary.)

In other outback contexts, a rifle would be useful - there are many feral animals that need shooting (e.g.. pigs, goats, foxes), and recreational hunters can have a great time while being useful to the environment as well...

Tasty though!

Have you tasted croc meat?

ehhhhmmmm.


If we had a 5th Amendment a la the US Constitution, I might plead it, depending...


(Ah - I've just read Jim's next post - so, yes. Yes, I have eaten of the crocodile. Farmed ones, I'm sure).




















...of course, it could have been chicken...

[klr]

Richard Fortey partook of farmed Croc meat*, and he also said it tasted like chicken, IIRC.

*On Survivors: Nature's Indestructible Creatures (BBC)

[Bella Fortuna]

What a croc!

[JimC]

"Man eats crocodile"

[Warren Dew]

How did the guy know the croc was after him? Maybe it just wanted a little romantic outing with his croc sized kayak.

[Collector1337]

Collector said something earlier in the thread that I can agree to to a certain extent. People doing these sorts of adventurous activities should be prepared and self-reliant, not dependent on others (or government agencies) to get them out of trouble.

Well, what do you know. Sanity.

(BTW, crocodiles are a protected species, shooting them is against the law as well as unnecessary.)

I could give a shit. My life is more important than some law.

The law you speak of should be more about stopping poachers.

In other outback contexts, a rifle would be useful - there are many feral animals that need shooting (e.g.. pigs, goats, foxes), and recreational hunters can have a great time while being useful to the environment as well...

Rifle, or any firearm of the individual's choosing.

[piscator]

[laklak]

I'd shoot it with a flare gun. Gotta stay cool, calm, collected. Wait for it to open it's mouth and lunge at you. Then, as the fingers on your amputated arm twitched it would shoot the flare right down the fucker's gullet.

But seriously, I absolutely would shoot it with a flare gun if that's all I had. Things burn hot. Hell, I'd hit it with a canoe paddle if THAT was all I had. Scratch it's eyeballs. Spit at it. What else you gonna do?

[JimC]

I'd shoot it with a flare gun. Gotta stay cool, calm, collected. Wait for it to open it's mouth and lunge at you. Then, as the fingers on your amputated arm twitched it would shoot the flare right down the fucker's gullet.

But seriously, I absolutely would shoot it with a flare gun if that's all I had. Things burn hot. Hell, I'd hit it with a canoe paddle if THAT was all I had. Scratch it's eyeballs. Spit at it. What else you gonna do?

Simply, not put yourself in a situation where it can eat you...

* no swimming (duh!)
* don't linger at the water's edge, and when you are there, be alert and ready to high-tail it pronto
* decent sized water craft, not fucking canoes...

Essentially, if you don't make yourself prey, you are safe. No need for weapons or he man tactics...

[piscator]

Flares are something he should have anyway if he's going island hopping in his kayak.

[JimC]

Flares are something he should have anyway if he's going island hopping in his kayak.

I think his expedition was about as poorly organised as you can imagine.

[mistermack]

Collector said something earlier in the thread that I can agree to to a certain extent. People doing these sorts of adventurous activities should be prepared and self-reliant, not dependent on others (or government agencies) to get them out of trouble.

Well, what do you know. Sanity.

When did stating the bleedin obvious become proof of sanity?
We could empty all of the asylums, with that kind of test.

Are you related to Sigmund Freud at all? Most people are, over here.

[piscator]

Flares are something he should have anyway if he's going island hopping in his kayak.

I think his expedition was about as poorly organised as you can imagine.

Yep. He wasn't prepared, and he paid for it. "Babe in the woods." Up here we call it, "Suicide by Alaska".

Example:

[Cormac]

Flares are something he should have anyway if he's going island hopping in his kayak.

I think his expedition was about as poorly organised as you can imagine.

Yep. He wasn't prepared, and he paid for it. "Babe in the woods." Up here we call it, "Suicide by Alaska".

Example:

Is that a picture of the idiot who walked off into the woods - and then died horribly?

[piscator]

Flares are something he should have anyway if he's going island hopping in his kayak.

I think his expedition was about as poorly organised as you can imagine.

Yep. He wasn't prepared, and he paid for it. "Babe in the woods." Up here we call it, "Suicide by Alaska".

Example:

Is that a picture of the idiot who walked off into the woods - and then died horribly?

Into The Wild is a good movie. It made me remember nostalgically and sympathetically what it was like to be young, dumb, and full of cum...

The book is filled with examples of people who came to Alaska feeling strong, but found out it was more important to actually be strong...Author Krakauer's example of learning this for himself is one of the most powerful bits in the book.