Katherine Gorge Endurance Race Cancelled Due to Crocodile Fears

There probably isn’t too many endurance races out there where the possibility of being eaten by a crocodile exists:

Organisers of a multi-sport endurance race in the Northern Territory have had to relocate the swimming leg amid concerns about crocodiles at Katherine Gorge.

The 100 kilometre Katherine Ultra Challenge involves a 3.2 kilometre swim, a 10 kilometre cross-country run, a 25 kilometre mountain bike ride, an 8 kilometre road run, a 17 kilometre kayak and a 37 kilometre road bike ride.

The annual event’s swim usually takes place in the river at Katherine Gorge, about 300 kilometres south of Darwin.

But the Parks and Wildlife Service says late rains have caused water levels to rise at the gorge, meaning surveys for saltwater crocodiles will not be completed before this weekend’s race.

The co-ordinator of the event, Lachlan Kelsall, says racers will now swim at the Copperfield Dam near Pine Creek on Saturday. The main event will still be on Sunday.  [ABC News]

You can view pictures of my prior visit to Katherine Gorge here and and read about my own concerns about being eaten by a crocodile at the gorge here.

Plenty of more pictures I took of Northern Territory crocodiles can be viewed here and here as well.