A small outback town in northern Australia is wondering how a
crocodile found its way into their local swimming spot - which is more
than 300km from the coast and the nearest river has dried up.
The town of Hughenden in Queensland, population 1,100, has named the
freshwater crocodile Houdini because it has evaded several attempts to
catch it.
Houdini of Hughenden has now become something of a tourist attraction.
Although crocodiles have been known to travel long distances to find
water, residents of Hughenden suspect a local may have slipped the croc
into their man-made swimming lake.
Local mayor Kate Peddle wrote on social media that she was shocked to
learn about the crocodile. “The mysteries of nature never fail to keep
us on our toes,” she wrote.
Wildlife officers will continue attempts to locate the animal, a protected species, and return it to a more suitable habitat.