4Meter Crocodile kills 5 year old boy on Daintree.

Don't kill the crocodile who killed our son

By Thomas Chamberlin and Carenda Jenkin
The Daily Telegraph
February 10, 2009 12:00am

THIS is the crocodile suspected of killing a five-year-old boy. The 4m dominant male, known as Goldie or Yellowtail, is the prime suspect in a deadly croc attack that has shaken a tight-knit community on the Daintree north of Cairns.

Two other massive predators known as Scarface and Fat Albert have been ruled out as likely culprits after witnesses provided a detailed description of the killer.

Dad could not save his boy from croc

Jeremy Doble is missing feared dead after he was taken by a croc in front of his brother, Ryan, 7, whose terrified screams alerted their father who was working nearby. Daintree River tour guide Steve Doble threw himself into the croc-infested mangrove swamp in a brave attempt to save his son only to find he vanished without a trace.


Police said the father and son, who have lived on the river for five years and who have an intimate knowledge of the dominant aggressive male crocodiles in the river system, were able to identify the killer.

Yellowtail or Goldie is easily distinguished by its tell-tale bright yellow markings on its back and tail, and aggressive demeanour as the dominant territorial male near the attack site. Locals said they had seen the croc in recent weeks hiding in the mangroves away from the fast-flowing cold floodwaters.

The Doble family, who live on the river on a 12ha tourist property, were yesterday "too distressed" to speak publicly and were counselled by grief trauma experts. They have begged authorities not to kill or hurt the crocodile if it is trapped as part of a massive croc hunt.

"They do not want any harm to come to the croc and for it to be treated as humanely as possible," acting Inspector Jason Smith said. "They are very distressed, but have had some incredible support from the local community."
He said the description given by the boy's brother who witnessed the attack had "narrowed the likelihood down to one particular crocodile".

The two boys had been playing on a boogie board in a mangrove swamp behind their family home as their father Steve fixed a mangrove boardwalk nearby when tragedy struck about 9.15am on Sunday.