A photo of a crocodile fighting waves at a popular beach has shocked locals and sparked an urgent search for the reptile.
The crocodile was spotted up to five times on Coonarr Beach at the mouth of the Elliott River, near Bundaberg, central Queensland on Thursday.
Jasmine Van Den Bos was stunned to see the crocodile fighting the ocean waves while she went for a walk with her dog.
'I just couldn't believe my eyes… [it] It was just a bit of a shock,” she told ABC.
“I panicked.”
The crocodile was photographed about 200 km south of the Boyne River, south of Gladstone, where known saltwater crocodile habitats begin. that of Queensland 'Croc Country' extends north to the Torres Strait and across the Cape York Peninsula.
When crocodiles venture outside of Croc Country, they usually move from one estuary to another, but sightings are rare.
Ms Van Den Bos, who has often swum at the beach, says the crocodile's presence means she may not swim again for a while.
The crocodile (pictured) was spotted up to five times on Coonarr Beach at the mouth of the Elliott River, near Bundaberg, central Queensland on Thursday.
The reports of the crocodile sightings at Coonarr Beach (pictured) fall outside the areas considered 'Croc Country' in Queensland
David Andreoli saw the crocodile's head sticking out of the water while walking along the beach with his wife.
The reptile, which he said was between five and a half feet long, “spinned around and went back into the ocean” as they got closer.
The Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said in a statement that they are investigating the reported crocodile sightings.
Conservation officer Alexander Peters said officials are contacting locals who made reports and signs will be posted on the beach warning of the sightings.
“As part of our investigation, conservationists will carry out site assessments, including ship searches and spotlight assessments of the area,” he said.
“While the investigation is ongoing, people in the Wide Bay region should be vigilant around the water, which means keeping children close and dogs away from the water's edge.”
The last known confirmed sightings of the reptile outside of Croc Country were when two large crocodiles were removed from the Mary River in 2013 and 2014.
