The girl was last seen on Tuesday followingnoon swimming in a waterway called Mango Creek regarding 350 kilometers southwest of Darwin, Australian media reported, citing police.
Investigators believe the girl was attacked and killed by a crocodile. “Our thoughts are with the family and the community,” said police spokeswoman Erica Gibson. Officers and residents were deployed with boats and were searching a large section of the water near the Aboriginal community of Nganmarriyanga, it was said.
Crocodiles up to six meters long
Both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles live in the region. Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow up to six meters long, are considered far more dangerous and extremely aggressive. Freshwater crocodiles, known as “freshies”, which can grow up to three meters long, only attack people if they feel threatened. However, the attacks are usually not fatal.
According to the Northern Territory government, there are more than 100,000 crocodiles living in the region. On average, there are two fatal crocodile attacks per year in Australia. Just last June, members of an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory shot and communally ate a “problem crocodile” that had repeatedly approached animals and people.