1. A croc, definitely. You'll never see them coming, you won't even know they are in the area and when they do attack you will die of suffocation rather than being "damaged beyond repair" ;)

Posted at 9:03AM on Sep 29th 2005 by Jernej

2. Here's a question: Most of the people who have posted do not support culling great whites (for many reasons), but if an identifiable animal was consistently attacking people in an area, what should be done? It it the animal's perogative to eat what (or whom) they please? Might this be a case where we could feel justified in hunting and killing this animal?

Posted at 9:07AM on Sep 29th 2005 by mccand

3. when i was in northern austrailia, every guy i met would rather dive with sharks than a croc. one man - a lifelong professional diver - said that a 3ft croc was more than enough to keep him out of the water. they're taken so seriously that rumors of crocs would keep people out of certain bodies of water for years.

Posted at 9:29AM on Sep 29th 2005 by frank murphy

4. No way dude. Shark would be better. They'd kill you faster, tear you to pieces. Crocs hold onto you and squeeze and chew for a long time. They slam you into the ground. Give me a great white any day.

Posted at 10:43AM on Sep 29th 2005 by Erik Olsen

5. I'm going to say it doesn't matter, but I'd probably prefer the shark. I think the shark would make dinner of me quicker with a nice big chomp than a croc with its death roll and claws.
As for the hunting, seeing as the croc is not likely for extinction according to CITES, I'm good with hunting it down. If it's making a habit of hunting people, then it needs to go.

Posted at 10:26AM on Sep 29th 2005 by The Tick

6. Killing the animal??

Get off their habitat if you don't want to get slaughtered. If you still want to wander around in THEIR home, be aware of the risks and accept them.

It's always mindblowing to see how humans feel they they have the right to enter other species' habitats and just go ahead and kill them because they're a threat.

How would you like an invasion of bears in your block, braking into your homes, killing your family just beacuse they felt like exploring a little...

Posted at 10:49AM on Sep 29th 2005 by Alpha

7. I spent part of last August and all of November diving the Great Barrier Reef and traveling around North Queensland, Australia. It is well-known in Australia that crocodiles come out of the rivers and can travel great distances in salt water, sometimes when going from one river to the next. There are signs all over the coast warning people about crocodiles (and box jellies too, but that's another story). The beaches are beautiful, and I can see why it would be tempting to just jump in for a dip. But locals, signs, tourist brochures, and web sites will tell you not to do so. Maybe there was not a known crocodile risk at the island in the Northern territory where Harris was working; the article doesn't say. According to the article Harris was a contractor for a mining group and had been there for five months, so if there was a threat, he probably should have known better. In any case it's really sad and unfortunate, but I probably would not support killing the croc. However it does look like the Australian authorities are hunting the croc, and plan to relocate it:
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/09/25/australia.crocodile.reut/index.html

Posted at 12:11PM on Sep 29th 2005 by Anat Grant

8. Just to clarify, Russel was an experienced long time diver. I'm sure he had the same amount of concern you would have when you go diving. You say he 'should have known better', does that mean people should pack up their scuba gear for good?

Posted at 1:27PM on Oct 7th 2005 by Beth

9. I have dove with Russell many times he was in fact the most consciences diver or snorkeler I have meet in my life never taking a chances following the books each and every time. They were snorkeling in a very popular beach that people go every day to snorkel and picnic the crock had migrated up the shore line almost 1 mile in till it found its perfect opportunity, being able to swim at super fast speeds and almost invisible laying on the bottom are staying in the water for up to 5 hours.
The fact is that the band on killing salties has created a problem with small animals, people even cattle and horses. I am sorrowed by losing a very good friend but Russell will not be the last person killed are maimed by these animals trust me I the band is not lifted.
John

Posted at 7:04PM on Oct 30th 2005 by John Hawkins

10. Hey Beth and John, I wasn't intending to sound insensitive. I've never lost a buddy or close friend so I don't know what that's like. I can only imagine how horrible it feels. I don't think that divers should all pack up their gear, but I do believe it's a personal choice: when I go in the water I'm risking my life, no matter what the conditions are, and I know it and accept that. Far be it from me to tell others what to do. From what you've both said, it sounds like the beach was considered to be safe, and that this attack was totally unexpected. I've learned from biologists and researchers that eliminating individual sharks is very unlikely to result in higher levels of human safety, because sharks cover such wide territories, and it's almost impossible to target the individual responsible for the incident. But is it the same for crocodiles? Or are they territorial?

Posted at 2:12PM on Oct 20th 2005 by Anat Grant

11. I have no preference on whether a shark or croc may eventually get me, so long as it is quick about it. The recent attacks are sad indeed, but not at all surprising. I was recently snorkeling off what has long been thought a "safe" island over 20 miles from the coast in North Queensland, only to come face to face with a 1.5 meter croc. While it was only a 4-footer, it was enough to keep me out of the water. After I came back to shore, I learned a 3 meter had been spotted in the same area. These animals can swim long distances, and anywhere you go, there's a risk that something will get you (octopus, jelly, croc, shark, etc.). I agree that the ban needs to be lifted, limitedly, as we are the croc's only natural predator.

Posted at 5:07PM on Oct 20th 2005 by Tammy