Broome crocodile expert Malcolm Douglas has been killed in a car crash on his property in far north WA.
The renowned crocodile farmer, who was the original "crocodile hunter" before Steve Irwin made the term fashionable, hit a tree while driving in his car this morning.
WA police reported that a vehicle crashed into a tree on Mr Douglas' Wilderness Park, 16 kilometres outside Broome on the Great Northern Highway, some time before 6.20am today WST. The park is separate to his crocodile farm at Cable Beach.
Police have confirmed Mr Douglas was the driver of the vehicle, and have notified his next of kin. Sources close to Mr Douglas earlier had confirmed he was in the vehicle when it crashed.
Broome shire acting president Chris Mitchell, who has known Mr Douglas for 23 years, said his death was a big loss for the remote town.
"He's done a lot for local tourism and in respect to wildlife conservation. He helped put Broome and the Kimberley on the map with all his documentaries," he said.
"It's very sad news. He was a colourful character and very knowledgeable about crocodiles and wildlife in the Kimberley.
"Our deepest sympathy goes out to his wife Valerie and his family."
Mr Douglas leaves behind wife Valerie and two adult children, Lachlan and Amanda.
It is not known what will become of his crocodile farm, which has international tourist attraction since opening in 1983.
"We just hope someone will continue all the good work he's done," Mr Mitchell said.
Mr Mitchell said that it was "just another stage in the loss of the Kimberley" after several zoos shut down in the early 90s, including the Pearl Coast zoo he worked at, next door to Mr Douglas' crocodile farm.
Steve Irwin's widow Terri, who runs Australia Zoo in Queensland, also paid her respects saying:"Malcolm was a pioneer in wildlife documentary filming and we are incredibly sad to hear of his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time."
WA Opposition Leader Eric Ripper said the state had lost an icon.
"(He was) sometimes controversial but always a staunch supporter of the Kimberley community," Mr Ripper said. "Malcolm was another example of a long tradition of larger-than-life characters from the Kimberley and the outback."
Broome Lions Club president Simon Penn said the town had been rocked by the news of Douglas' death.
"He is a huge loss for Broome," Penn said. "He was very high profile and he had done a lot to promote the town and raise the profile of the town nationally and perhaps internationally."
The original crocodile hunter
Mr Douglas was one of Australia's foremost crocodile experts.
His farm was used as a place for people to interact with crocodiles, but also push Mr Douglas' core message of the importance of conservation. The facility also acted as one of the country's biggest crocodile farms, producing meat and skin for the commercial trade as a way to protect the population in the wild.
The farm made national headlines in July when a drunk man jumped into the enclosure of one of the biggest crocodiles, a male called "fatso". He attempted to ride the reptile before being attacked, but he was fortunate to escape with a bite to the leg.
Mr Douglas also operated a wilderness reserve on his Broome property, which incorporates an animal refuge to preserve endangered species.
But he made a name for himself on the small screen as one of Australia's most famous bushmen.
His first film, Across the Top, was borne out of a six-month trip around Australia with a mate in 1964. It was a massive success when broadcast on television.
In an interview with Fairfax last year, Mr Douglas said his genuine love of the bush was what had kept him relevant over the years.
"What you see is what you get," he told the Sun Herald.
"I'm not fake and I don't pre-plan takes, it's all real. There's no helicopter on standby if something goes wrong. In places like the Kimberleys one mistake and you're dead."
Mr Douglas has made more than 50 documentaries and films over his career.
After several close calls in his 40-year career, his nearest brush with death came in 2003 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and given 18 months to live.
He underwent successful surgery to remove the tumour, but he said the experience gave him a new perspective on life.
"It changes your attitude too," he told the ABC back in 2004.
"You try and remain calmer. You try and appreciate life. You appreciate every day, you know? Because, from now on, I could have been dead, and I'm, you know...I'm still kickin'."
Mr Douglas started out his career as a professional crocodile hunter back in the 1960s, but soon changed his tune to dedicate his life to saving the massive reptiles.
"See, I was a professional crocodile hunter when I travelled around Australia," he told the ABC. "But I was one of the first to think, 'This is not right'. All these crocs here, if I didn't put them in a captive situation, they'd be shot.
"Now, in a perfect world, I should not have any crocodiles here. They should all be out there in the Kimberley, swimming around. But people and crocodiles don't mix."
Champion of the region
The manager of Broome's popular Divers Tavern watering hole, Mark Phillips, said Mr Douglas had done more good for the region than most despite attracting controversy with his views about the expansion and development of Broome.
Mr Douglas was opposed to the development of the Kimberley gas hub by major resources companies because it would endanger the rare and local fauna of the region. This was in opposition to some local businesses views, due to the money it would bring to the region.
"Malcolm liked things to stay the same, he didn't like things to change. I had a lot of respect for him as an individual and as a wildlife proponent," Mr Phillips said. "It's very much been discussed here at the pub. He will be sadly missed."
He called Mr Douglas a "bit of a giant".
"He was very, very tall, nearly seven foot. He was quite an interesting character," Mr Phillips said.
"He had a good understanding of the local indigenous people. When he developed the croc park out there he's done it with the acknowledgment of indigenous people. He was very respectful."
- with Daile Pepper
