Man pictured casually strolling just feet away from huge crocodile in Australia

A picture of a man casually strolling past a huge croc lying in the sun in Far North Queensland, Australia is creating a stir online.

The man could be seen with his phone in hand walking across a riverbank just feet from the animal, while another man stood a little further away.

The photos at Russell River near Babinda, south of Cairns, were first uploaded on social media and later shared by Cairns Post, which reported locals were angry at the man for disturbing the croc, known as Clyde, and risking its removal.

“If this keeps happening it’s only a matter of time (before) old Clyde will be targeted for removal,” one person said.

Another described the scene as “unbelievable human behavior”.

But as the photos gained wider attention, Aussies from FNQ defended the man.

Some claimed he was at a safe distance in daylight so there was nothing to worry about.

“Nothing wrong with this … it’s when this guy is ankle-deep fishing there and that croc is nowhere in sight is when the problems start,” one wrote.

“Who cares? People know crocodiles are predatory and potentially dangerous … if they want to risk it anyway then who actually gives a f—k? It’s called ‘free will,’” another said.

“You want us to live with them. Then criticize us for just living with them,” added a third.

A fourth person quipped: “What’s with the concern? He is not.”

The Queensland Government’s Crocwise campaign warns people to stay at least five yards from the water’s edge as crocodiles often hunt their prey there.

Just weeks earlier, another man-made headline for fishing on the same bank only feet from Clyde.

Speaking to Nine News at the time, Croc Country Australia owner Jesse Crampton said he had seen people feeding Clyde, which actually put not only the people but Clyde in danger.

“I’ve personally seen over the years people down there feeding him fish, and big carcasses like wallaby carcasses of the road, doing their own attack shows,” he said.

He added: “When crocodiles lose the fear of people and they get food, associated with humans, then they become dangerous animals.

“And if an animal is deemed an immediate threat then they [Department of Environment and Science] remove it to reduce the risk of someone getting killed.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Environment and Science said it was “frustrating to see people take unnecessary, life-threatening risks in known crocodile habitat”.