Three men photographed swimming into a baited croc trap near the scene of a fatal attack in Queensland appear to be vying for the "idiots of the century award", a local mayor says.
Photos of the men swimming around and even climbing into the trap at the Port Douglas Marina have surfaced online, leaving Douglas Shire Mayor Julie Leu stunned.
"I was absolutely gobsmacked, this is incredibly stupid and dangerous behaviour. I'm wondering if these fellows are vying for the idiots of the year award or the idiots of the century award," she told ABC radio.
The pictures show the trio frolicking in the water and sitting in the mouth of the trap at the marina, not far from where a 4.3-metre croc took 79-year-old dementia sufferer Anne Cameron.
The croc that took her less than two weeks ago was trapped in the Mowbray River, south of Port Douglas.
Queensland's Environment Minister Steven Miles has also expressed disbelief, tweeting the image with the message: "Srsly? The meat we put in these traps is bait. For crocodiles. Don't swim in them! It's stupid and illegal."
The men could be fined $A15,000 ($NZ16,800) each of they are identified and convicted of interfering with a crocodile trap.
