CANBERRA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Danish "hunter and adventurer" has come under investigation by Australian authorities after he rode a live saltwater crocodile.
In a video posted on social media, Niels Jensen - who works in the Northern Territory (NT) as a hunting guide - goads the crocodile with a dead wallaby before mounting its back.
"Saltwater crocodiles are large and potentially dangerous animals," Tracey Duldig, acting director of NT Wildlife Operations, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday night.
"The behavior shown in this video is dangerous and reckless and we do not support this type of interaction with crocodiles."
Duldig said the use of a wallaby as bait would also be investigated.
"This is a protected species and it is illegal to take or interfere with protected wildlife," she said.
"Heavy penalties can apply ... The Department of Tourism and Culture will investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident."
Saltwater crocodiles can grow up seven meters in length and 1,200 kg in weight.
A study by the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Center, Royal Darwin Hospital and Menzies School of Heath Research published in June 2017 found that 14 people were killed by crocodile attacks in the NT between 2005 and 2014.
By comparison, only 10 people were killed in attacks in the 33 years to 2004.
Park rangers in the NT in 2014 dubbed a man who posed for a photo near a baited crocodile trap "unbelievably stupid."
The incident occurred within months of two fatal crocodile attacks in Kakadu National Park.?
