‘This is no joke’: Croc attack crisis sparks MP call to ‘do more’

A saltwater croc crisis following three attacks in two weeks - including one that ended in tragedy - has triggered calls from within government to “do more” while experts express concern croc-safe messaging is falling on deaf ears.

A SALTWATER croc crisis following three attacks in two weeks has triggered calls from within government to “do more” while experts express concern croc-safe messaging is falling on deaf ears.

Following the disappearance of a Cairns yachtie who was taken by a big croc off Hinchinbrook Island, zoologist Dr Adam Britton said despite Queensland croc attacks being “extremely rare” fishing from a small boat in known croc habitat was a risky activity.

“If you are in croc habitat a boat like that is just not safe especially if you are fishing,” he said.

Police search waters off Hinchinbrook Island for missing man Andy Heard believed to have been taken by a crocodile Picture Supplied

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“Nobody wants to blame the victim, it was not his intention to go out and get attacked by a croc.

“(But) if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time these things can happen.”

On Sunday a 4.2m Hinchinbrook croc was found to contain the suspected remains of well-known Cairns man Andy Heard.

The death follows a Lake Placid attack of a 2.5m crocodile on January 29 and a recent Weipa incident in which a young man narrowly escaped the jaws of a 3.6m animal.

The fatal Cardwell attack is the first in the state since 2017.

Andy Heard is presumed dead after a croc attack at Hinchinbrook Island. Pictured here with partner Eria Lang (centre). Picture: Supplied

Dr Britton said he thought crocodile management policy was sound however education to hit home about the seriousness of a big croc attack was not getting through.

“This is no joke this is croc habitat, this is where crocs live,” he said.

“Information that it wasn’t safe didn’t get to him, had he known he wouldn’t have done it.

“It’s unfortunate, he made a mistake and it cost him his life.”

Barron River MP Craig Crawford said the state would be “guided by experts” when determining future policy but conceded “it’s time for the government to do more on crocs”.

“Given this was the third attack, in as many weeks,” he said.

Missing man Andy Heard's yacht Shiraz.

“It highlights to the rest of us – this is croc country. If you are going to go in the water in North Queensland, you need to be aware you’re going into their habitat.

“(But) if your question is ‘will we go back to culling crocodiles’, then the answer is no, there is no intention to that at all.”

Department of Environment and Science northern program co-ordinator Dr Matthew Brien said crocs are being removed in “record numbers” from Cairns waterways.

“We haven’t had an increase in fatalities in the last 10 years but we have seen an increase in non-fatal attacks involving smaller crocs,” he said.

QLD_CP_NEWS_MISSING_MAN_13FEB20

Watching the weekend search in his patch Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said he was opposed to an indiscriminate cull but scientifically controlled commercial harvesting was a way of thinning croc numbers.

“No one want to see crocs shot back into extinction,” he said.

“(But) the state government has to make a choice if they want to put the lives of crocs in front of humans. “

ATTACK TIMELINE

3PM THURSDAY:

Cairns man Andy Heard departs on a fishing trip from his yacht Shiraz in a 2.5m tender. He was expected back an hour later.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON:

Mr Heard’s partner, Erica Lang, raised the alarm when the 69-year-old failed to return and was unable to be reached via radio.

FRIDAY 2.30AM:

Police launch a search and locate the man’s upturned boat with croc-bite damage.

FRIDAY MORNING:

Police and Environment Department rangers continue the search, focusing on the Gayundah Creek area at the southern end of Hinchinbrook Island.

SATURDAY 11AM:

Police find human remains in the area.

SATURDAY 4PM:

Rangers humanely euthanise a 4.2m croc found in the area.

SUNDAY 11AM:

Police confirm human remains were found inside the croc.

Yachties Erica Lang and Andy Heard during happier times on board their yacht on a cold morning in 2019. PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

CROC VICTIM’S CALL TO CULL

IN A cruel twist, long before the death of Andy Heard, the veteran Cairns yachtie called for action to address an increasing saltwater crocodile population.

In 2018, Mr Heard told the Cairns Post he had great respect for the reptiles that shared the Far North coastline, however culling ought to be looked at in certain areas.

“If you start culling them, people will think it’s safe as pie to go in there — and they will get taken then,” Mr Heard said at the time.

Andy Heard who lived on his boat at Trinity Inlet in 2018 said something should be done with crocs in urban areas. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

However he acknowledged that in waterways people frequented, crocs needed to be better managed, and if that meant culling in built-up areas like Trinity Inlet, then so be it.

“I’d cull them here, but not everywhere,” he said.

“Just where there’s a lot of people — you need to do something.”

Having lived on the water for more than 50 years, the former commodore of the Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron said he witnessed crocs swimming in Trinity Inlet every day.

Mr Heard was last seen alive on Thursday when he launched a 2.5m tender off Hinchinbrook Island.

Originally published as ‘This is no joke’: Croc attack crisis sparks MP call to ‘do more’