Kinga, the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is a highly respected and feared animal, associated with many Dreaming sites in Arnhem Land. In the past it was also hunted for food. Kinga can travel in salt water or fresh water, and often travel long distances between river systems. Kinga make their nests in the long grass or forest areas close to rivers, billabongs and water holes. These are piles of mud and vegetation where they lay their eggs. They are very aggressive around their nests. Kinga are often depicted alongside their prey such as namarnkol (barramundi).

Nawu kinga nakka nabang mayh, minj karrikilekme karriborrkbun wardi kanbaye kanbun karridowen. Karriwern karrikengeme bininj dja mayh warridj dja bu korroko nahni mayh kinga birringuni dja Djang warridj ngadberre kadjangdi kore kubolkwern kunred ngadberre. Kinga nungan mayh kayawan kangun kare kore kurrula dja kare kore kubowinjku kukku. Kinga karedmarnbun kore kungarre kurralk kore kukku darnkih djengkeh kamarnbun wanjh wirllarrk kawirllarkngukdeng dja darnkih kayiyo nawu wirllarrk. Bu ngiredyikan darnkih kore wirllarrk kahyo nuye wanjh ngunbaye ngunbun.

<!– Previous story: The reptile painted by the artist is very significant to Kunwinjku life and culture. The kinga or saltwater crocodile is a highly respected and feared animal that has significance as a food source and as totem to many bininj (Aboriginal people) in Arnhem Land. Although known as the saltwater crocodile, kinga are estuarine and can be found throughout the watercourses and billabongs of Arnhem Land.
The kinga has been painted in the classic Kunwinjku “x-ray” style, with internal organs showing, which indicates its game rather than totem.

Nawu artist bimbom Kinga. Kinga nakka nabang mayh karriwern karrikengeme bininj dja mayh warridj dja bu korroko nahni mayh kinga birringuni dja Djang warridj ngadberre kadjangdi kore kubolkwern kunred ngadberre Nawu bininj yika kabirribimbun djenj dja kinga dorrengh nakka wanjh mayh nuye nawu djenj bu kabun kangun Kinga nakka estuarine crocodile karohrok bu karringeybun saltwater crocodile nawu karringalke kore mankabo manwanjdjad kore kukku kubowinjku dja kore kurrula saltwater kore Western Arnhem Land kore artist kahni Nawu namarnkol barramundi nakka wanjh nawernhkuken djenj ngadberre kore Top End bu ngarrimang nakimuk yika nayahwurd bu ngarringun Namarnkol barramundi karrinan kore kurrula saltwater dja kore kubowinjku kukku freshwater kore mankabo dja manwanjdjad namarnkol kangun djenj kilekilelh dja kunbak dja wakih nawu kukkuwaken kayo kore kukku kubowinjku Nawu mayh dja mandem bendjarrkbimbom kore djurra mandem manbu manme bininj bu ngarringun dja mak mayh dja mayhmayh bu ngarridjarrkngun manbu mandem waterlily. –>

<!– Kunwinjku text cut out for length: Ngarrikarrme bokenh mayh nawu mayh nakudji nakka nabang nabuyika nawu djakwarre nawu ngarringeybun danjbik kunngey kangeyo kolomomo kumuken modjarrkki.
Kolomomo nakka kangukdeng nuye wirllarrk kore kukadjid kukayalanj kukabo kaddum karrkad yiman manbiri. –>