Shocking moment crocodile drags Rusty the puppy to its death leaving its paw hanging from predator’s jaws
Maneater reptiles are stalking flooded towns after devastation of Cyclone Debbie in Queensland
A GIANT crocodile snatched a pet puppy in front of its horrified owner on a flooded riverbank following Cyclone Debbie in Australia.
A shocking picture shows Rusty's last moments with one paw sticking out of the predator's jaws.
Melissa Horton watched in horror as the purebred kelpie pup was snatched while playing in her garden near a creek in Belvedere, Queensland.
Much of the area was left underwater following the powerful storm last week - which also left a giant bull shark washed up on a road near the town of Ayr.
Several crocs measuring up to 18ft have reportedly been spotted swimming on flooded land around the Burdekin Dam.
Australian Party MP Shane Knuth said Rusty is the latest victim in a “spate of attacks” and is calling for a “controlled” crocodile cull.
He said: “This image is confronting and frankly heartbreaking for residents who are imagining that dog could have been their beloved pet, or much worse, their child.
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“Attacks are on the rise, the crocs we’re seeing are big, aggressive and territorial, and crocs are surfacing in places they’ve never been before.
“People are petrified to get out and enjoy the waterways, even in safe areas, with membership dropping in water sport clubs and iconic events cancelled due to croc sightings.
“Reports show seven beaches have been closed due to croc sightings in the past three months.”
Last month, a besotted teenager almost had his arm ripped off after he jumped into croc-infested waters to impress a girl.
Lee De Paauw, 18, escaped by punching the maneater reptile with his right arm as it chomped down on his left arm during a late-night swim in far-north Queensland’s Johnstone River.
Days later, another crocodile suspected of fatally mauling a Cairns spear fisherman was killed by Queensland wildlife officers.
The 13ft croc is believed to have taken Warren Hughes as he fished shallow waters south of Innisfail on Saturday.
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