In a tragic incident, rangers in northern Australia have taken the life of a 4.2-meter (14-foot) saltwater crocodile after it killed a 12-year-old girl who was swimming with her family last week. The police confirmed that the crocodile responsible for the attack was successfully hunted down on Sunday, following permission granted by the region's traditional landowners.

This unfortunate incident marks the first fatal crocodile attack in the Northern Territory since 2018, when an Indigenous woman lost her life while gathering mussels in a river. The tragedy has reignited the longstanding debate about how to manage the increasing crocodile population in the area, where these protected creatures have increasingly encroached on human settlements.

Wildlife rangers had been engaged in efforts to trap or shoot the crocodile ever since the attack occurred in Mango Creek near Palumpa, an Outback Indigenous community. Given the revered status of saltwater crocodiles as a totem by many Indigenous Australians, the decision to take down the predator garnered significant attention and consideration.

Analyses have confirmed that the killed crocodile was indeed the one responsible for the tragic incident. According to renowned crocodile scientist Grahame Webb, such a large specimen can only be male and at least 30 years old. Saltwater crocodiles grow throughout their lives and can live up to 70 years.

Recently, the Northern Territory approved a 10-year plan to manage crocodile numbers, aiming to increase the culling rate near human habitats from 300 to 1,200 per year. The government argued that the crocodile population should not be allowed to surpass that of humans. With an estimated population of 100,000 crocodiles and a sparse human population of around 250,000 in an area comparable to the size of France and Spain combined, balancing coexistence has become a pressing issue.

Interestingly, crocodile populations in the Northern Territory have exhibited a self-regulating trend in recent years. According to Webb, the crocs have been primarily controlling their own population through natural mechanisms, such as territorial disputes and cannibalism. However, he emphasizes that it is crucial for humans to take proactive measures to manage the species effectively.

As authorities continue to discuss the best course of action, the tragic death of the young girl serves as a stark reminder of the complex relationship between humans and these formidable creatures in the unique ecosystem of the Northern Territory.