鳄鱼 in the Northern Territory

咸水鳄鱼是北领地最有名的物种。在北端地区的河流、水塘，或者北领地的野生公园，都可以看到它的身影。

可怕、古老、坚韧——鳄鱼是北领地最令人着迷的动物之一。游客可以在野外观看它们，也可以在乘船巡游时用鱼饵吸引它们从水中跳起。在野生公园，你可以通过玻璃底的水箱，与它们进行面对面接触。或者去鳄鱼农场，观看投喂鳄鱼的过程。

笼中鳄

在达尔文的鳄鱼公园（Crocodylus Park），你可以让一只鳄鱼高高跳起，喂它食物，也可以把一只小鳄鱼抱在怀中。这座公园饲养着1万只鳄鱼，长度从30厘米到五米不等，有些鳄鱼的重量可达半吨。里面有一座博物馆可供游览，展示着有趣的工艺品，文化艺术品，以及其他一些体现鳄鱼生理特性和嗜血性格的展品。

鳄鱼湾

在达尔文的鳄鱼湾（Crocosaurus Cove），你可以更进一步地观赏咸水鳄鱼。通过水族馆的玻璃墙，或是站在观景台上，都可以窥见它们在水下的生活环境。如果还觉得距离不够近，不妨穿上侧面透明的“死亡之笼”潜水服，潜入水中一探究竟。

别错过达尔文的鳄鱼农场，这里下午有喂食鳄鱼表演。你还可以见见伯特，它是电影《鳄鱼邓迪》中的鳄鱼明星。另外，游客还能品尝到鳄鱼肉汉堡。

野外鳄鱼观赏点

在北领地大部分的河流中，平均每公里有五只鳄鱼。但是在玛丽河（Mary River），咸水鳄鱼的数量多达每公里15只。当你爬上荫凉营地（Shady Camp）的观景台，放眼泛滥平原，一定会看到鳄鱼的。

在卡卡杜国家公园的乌比尔岩（Ubirr），有比宁基部落的岩画可供观赏，内容是关于鳄鱼的故事。你也可以乘船游览黄水灌木沼泽区（Yellow Water Billabong），在这里可以拍摄咸水鳄。而在达拉金水潭（Djarradjin Billabong），夜晚则可以通过灯光照射观看鳄鱼。当你驱车前往贾比鲁小镇（Jabiru），还可以找到著名的鳄鱼形旅馆，并在此过夜。

在尼特米鲁克（凯瑟琳峡谷）乘船游览时，你可以观赏在河岸上筑巢的淡水鳄鱼。在凯瑟琳河的下游，有“鳄鱼夜间探险”（Crocodile Night Adventure）的乘船游览项目，导游会“招呼鳄鱼”，让游客拍照。

在阿德莱德河上，不管参加哪一类乘船游览项目，你都会看到鳄鱼高高跃起的景象——当鱼饵挂在船边摇晃，鳄鱼会从河里直跳起来，去抢夺食物。

认真看标识牌

涉及鳄鱼时，北领地政府总是严肃对待游客的安全问题。但是，你要为自己在鳄鱼区的行为负最终责任。

请认真看鳄鱼安全标识牌，即使没有鳄鱼，也要假想它们就在眼前。在澳大利亚北部，鳄鱼的数量几乎和人口一样多，你难免在某个水域遇上一只。在澳大利亚北部，大约有15万只咸水鳄鱼和至少10万只淡水鳄鱼。

如果你需要更多信息，请访问以下“公园和野生动物”网站：

• Be CROCWISE

Crocodiles in Aboriginal culture

Crocodiles play a very important part in Aboriginal culture. It’s believed that crocodiles represent the spirit of important people and signify strength and skill.

The Crocodile Dreaming story that originates in the Daly River region is one of power and jealousy. A legendary fisherman was believed to have been killed by jealous men when their wives became too admiring of his prowess. The fisherman was rolled in a net and left to hang over the waterway. The net marks in his skin became the scale pattern of the crocodile, and the fisherman now prowls the shoreline awaiting his revenge.

This is just one of many Dreamtime stories about crocodiles that are still told today.

History of crocodiles in the Territory

While crocodiles may be the oldest residents of the NT, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the carnivores. From the end of WWII until the early 70’s, crocodiles were hunted for their leather hides to the point of near extinction.

Since then, unregulated hunting has ceased, and a world-renowned conservation effort has ensured that over half of the Australian crocodile population are now found in the NT.

With a sustainable and protected population, crocodile conservation is a priority across the NT and numbers have recovered almost completely in the past four decades.

A crocodile souvenir to keep

Crocodile leather is some of the toughest and most luxurious in existence, making it highly coveted for clothing and leatherwear. Many top European fashion brands source NT leather for their premium, designer products. At local suppliers in the NT, these fine leather goods can be picked up at a fraction of the price.

The best part about shopping in the Top End: all NT crocodile leather is farmed sustainably, with the future of the industry and the crocodile population in mind. With so many crocodile souvenirs and gifts on offer in the NT, we’re sure you’ll find something to take home.

Crocodile safety

Even though ‘saltwater’ crocodiles are the most dangerous, visitors should be aware that they can be found over 200km from the coast in fresh water. Crocodiles can also travel up to a kilometre on land, remain concealed for long periods inland, stay submerged without moving during a hunt, and run incredibly fast. Just because you can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they’re not there. Observe the signs and stay safe.

Don’t attempt to feed any wild crocodiles during your stay, and don’t swim in any waterway or camp, fish or walk in any area where crocodile hazard signs are posted. The best way to avoid getting hurt is to avoid crocodiles in the wild altogether. Check the Be Crocwise website for more information.