Crocodile in Australia ate nine dogs

SYDNEY: A 4.4-metre (14.5-feet) crocodile that had eaten up to nine pet dogs has been hauled out of a river in Australia's north, a report said on Friday.

The rogue croc was trapped at Daly River community, some 225 kilometres (139 miles) south of Darwin, where it was terrorising residents and animals, the Northern Territory News said.

Community police officer Mark Casey told the newspaper his office had nine reports of dogs being taken by a crocodile, believed to be the animal caught, in a month.

"Crocs are an ever-present danger but you don't see them," he said.

"They can sit for days on end on the other side of the river and watch you go fishing off the same log or rock -- that's how they hunt.

"Next thing you know, bang, the dog's gone."

As the saltwater crocodile drew ever closer to the settlement of 500 people, also snatching wallabies, a decision was made to catch it.

While the pet-eating beast was caught, Casey said there were two more big crocs and a small one still on the loose in the area.

Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow up to seven metres long and weigh more than a tonne, are a common feature of Australia's tropical north and kill an average of two people a year.

Caught crocs are usually relocated to wildlife parks. (AFP)

Crocodile sinks teeth into Aussie dentist

PERTH: An Australian dentist has survived an attack by a large saltwater crocodile after it leapt into his boat and clamped its teeth around his shoulder.

Bruce Rudeforth was fishing at Secure Bay in the north of Western Australia when the croc pounced, the West Australian newspaper reported Tuesday.

"Out of the corner of my eye, this thing came at me," Rudeforth said.

"It bit into my shoulder and I stood up and gave it one in the throat with my free elbow. I presume that's what made it let go."

The crocodile disappeared underwater but returned again, forcing the dentist and his fishing mate to fend it off with an oar.

Rudeforth, who suffered puncture wounds from the reptile's teeth, said he had fished in the area for years and often saw crocodiles, but they never attacked.

"They usually hang out at a comfortable distance, just waiting for you to make a mistake, but on this trip we had lots of episodes where they came right at us and were aggressive," he said. (AFP)