Authorities are hunting a crocodile in a far north Queensland river after a man and his dog were attacked.
The 37-year-old man took his dog to the Bloomfield boat ramp, 50km south of Cooktown, around 5.35pm on Wednesday when the crocodile lunged from the water's edge.
The man suffered multiple wounds to his lower leg and the dog was dragged into the water.
The man was airlifted from Wujal Clinic to Cairns Hospital where he remains in a stable condition, but the dog is missing.
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Wildlife officers have been sent to Ayton in an attempt to remove the crocodile, liaising with Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and police.
"Under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan, the Bloomfield boat ramp is in Zone E, which means that any crocodile displaying dangerous behaviour is targeted for removal," the Department of Environment and Science (DES) said in a statement.
It is the first crocodile incident on a person in Queensland since November 2021, when a man was attacked at the McIvor River, also near Cooktown.
The Bloomfield River is a well-known crocodile habitat and DES said the incident is a warning for people to be cautious.
"This incident is a timely reminder for people to be crocwise in croc country and not to be complacent with their own safety or the safety of their family or pets when they are in or near the water."
Australian Associated Press
