Death of Pavlov’s Croc: Massive five- metre saltwater crocodile that stalked primary school children and thought the lunchtime bell meant it was getting FED is shot and killed
- Massive crocodile was lurking near Northern Peninsula Area State College, QLD
- It attacked a dog along the creek’s bank last month and was a danger to students
- The crocodile was lured in by school bell before it was shot and killed by ranger
A massive five metre saltwater crocodile that stalked a school and thought the lunchtime bell meant it was getting fed has been shot and killed.
The predator was found lurking in Cowal Creek, which runs behind Northern Peninsula Area State College’s Injinoo Junior Campus in Cape York, Far North Queensland.
Earlier last month, a different crocodile was filmed snatching a dog from the same creek while horrified primary school students watched on.
A five metre crocodile was lured by the school bell, thinking it was going to be fed, but was instead shot by rangers. Pictured above is a 3.7m crocodile captured near the school in 2014
A Department of Environment and Science spokesman told Cairns Post that the animal was a danger to the students.
The five metre crocodile was lured by the school bell, thinking it was going to be fed, but was instead shot by rangers.
‘Due to the unacceptable risk the crocodile posed to human safety, including students at the nearby school, along with the animal’s dangerous behaviour, a decision was made in partnership with traditional owners to humanely euthanise the crocodile,’ the spokesperson said.
Injinoo-based land and sea ranger Angelina Williams said: ‘Every time the (school) bell rings, a croc comes around, because the kids are throwing their food scraps over the fence, into the creek.’
‘The croc that was filmed was probably coming in to get the scraps,’ she said.
A 3.7metre crocodile was pulled in from the same creek in 2014 after young students spotted it outside the school.
The school principal at the time dubbed the predator ‘Pavlov’s Croc’, referencing a Russian physiologist’s theory about classical conditioning.
Last month, a crocodile was filmed snatching a dog from along the creek’s bank while horrified primary school students watched on
The monster-sized animal was found lurking in Cowal Creek behind Northern Peninsula Area State College (pictured)