An outback pub owner's feisty encounter with a crocodile — fighting it off with only a frying pan — has prompted warnings for tourists flocking to the Northern Territory this dry season.
Captured on video, the 3.5-metre croc is seen lunging at publican Kai Hansen at the Goat Island Lodge, about 70 kilometres south of Darwin on the Adelaide River.
Mr Hansen, a Territory bush character known as "King Kai", then whacks the crocodile, Casey, on the head with a frying pan twice before it scampers away.
Despite his dance with death, the seasoned Territorian seemed unfazed, telling ABC Radio Darwin there was no bad blood between them.
"Casey's cute mate, she's my favourite croc," he said.
"She has a lovely smile."
Croc dangers no laughing matter
Home to more than 100,000 wild saltwater crocodiles, the risk of an unexpected croc attack is serious in the Northern Territory — and frying pans usually won't help.
Ian Hunt, a crocodile ranger with the Northern Territory government, said tourists, as well as locals, must always remember they're in "croc territory".
"The number one thing I want to make clear to everybody who comes to the territory is that crocodiles can be in absolutely any waterway — saltwater or freshwater," he said.
"There can be saltwater crocodiles in small creeks, little billabongs, small waterholes. They all can contain large crocodiles that can be a threat to life."
'You might be on the menu'
Saltwater crocodiles are bigger and far more dangerous than freshwater crocodiles, Mr Hunt said.
"Saltwater crocs are the largest crocodile species on the planet ... and they're a very actively aggressive crocodile," he said.
"They hunt very large prey including buffalo, pigs, horses and obviously humans come into that category as well.
For more information on staying alive in the waterways, visit the NT government's Be CrocWise website.
Casey the croc an example of the risks
Mr Hansen said the frying pan was a "good weapon", adding it's not the first time he has used one to keep Casey at bay.
About 15 years ago, he said Casey had tried to attack him as he carried food down to her in a frying pan during meal time.
"I lifted the frying pan, the food went out and then I slapped it down on her nose," he said.
Mr Hansen's ability to quickly forgive Casey's snappy moods is all the more remarkable given she ate his dog Pippa in 2018.
The tiny terrier, dubbed "the dumb blonde", had a reputation for terrorising Casey by suddenly leaping down the balcony's stairs and racing towards the croc, aiming for her tail.
It was a game Pippa played for nearly a decade before her luck ran out.
"That wasn't Casey's fault," Mr Hansen said of the incident.
"An eight kilo dog should not attack a 300 kilo crocodile. Let's be fair."
