Croc hunting in the Solomons

Nelson’s Senior Sergeant John Maxwell had an unusual day at work recently, when he got involved in a crocodile hunt.

Senior Sergeant John Maxwell (right) with Australian Federal Police advisor Stewart Speedie and the crocodile they caught. Photo: PPF Media

John, who is just two months into his six-month deployment as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, was called in to accompany the Australian Federal Police’s Operational Response Group (ORG) on a crocodile shoot near Gizo.

“ We headed out in an aluminium dinghy, and once we spotted the crocodile there were 40 minutes of chasing – and being chased,” he says. “When the 3.2 metre croc attempted to attack our dinghy the ORG sniper shot him.”

While taking part in the hunt was exciting for John, it brought home just how difficult life can be for the local people. Village chiefs had spoken to him of their despair at the loss of family and friends to crocodile killings. One crocodile in particular is said to be seven metres long.

“Seeing how amazingly aggressive and powerful a 3.2 metre crocodile is, I shudder to think what a seven metre one would be like!” says John.