Crocodile reported south of Elliott Heads

Wildlife officers from the State Department of Environment and Science have investigated the croc sighting, made by a local fisherman casting nets south of Elliott Heads.

A crocodile sighting south of the Bundaberg region’s most popular and picturesque surf beach in April was no cause for concern, an Environment and Science spokesperson said on Friday.

The “small” crocodile was reportedly spotted by a local resident while casting nets near Coonarr at the mouth of the Elliott Heads River in mid-April.

An initial investigation by DES officers revealed “a member of the public reported seeing what they thought to be a submerged small crocodile” on April 16, 2022.

“The person also said the animal did not breach, and they weren’t sure it was a crocodile,” the DES said.

A copy of a photo at the Hideaway Hotel at Tiaro south of Maryborough, showing a crocodile which had been shot in the Mary River in 1964. h. Pics Tim Marsden

“Crocodiles do not typically live in the Wide Bay region, and the last confirmed sighting occurred back in 2014.

“The department receives sporadic crocodile sighting reports from the Wide Bay region and uses a variety of investigative techniques to reassure the community. This includes land and vessel based surveys, and the use of drones and photographs.

“Our experts can review photographs to determine the presence of nests or slide marks.”

After the sighting was submitted to the department through the QWildlife app on May 1, 2022, an investigation by departmental officers revealed no evidence of the presence of a crocodile.

A 3.8 m crocodile caught in the Mary River at the Mungar reach, just south of Maryborough. Photo: Alistair Brightman / Fraser Coast Chronicle

The department investigates all crocodile sighting reports, and all crocodiles that pose a threat to human safety are targeted for removal under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan.

Elliott Heads is located at the mouth of the Elliott River about 20km from Bundaberg, and offers surf and beach swimming and the calmer waters of the river mouth. With its white sand and blue waters it is popular with local residents and visitors, including kite surfers and jet skiers.

The incident was far from the first reported crocodile sighting in the Bundaberg region, with at least six sightings in the past two years.

Those included a sighting at Woodgate in October of 2019 and Sandy Hook in December of 2018.

Most recently, in 2020, a crocodile was spotted in the Burnett River at Sandy Hook by a local family enjoying the waters.

The Wide Bay as a whole has its own history with crocodile sightings, with multiple confirmed sightings in the Mary River at Maryborough and as far inland as Tiaro and even Gympie.

Discover Hervey Bay lists over a dozen sightings in the Mary River in the past decade, many of which resulted in the crocodiles being trapped and relocated by rangers.

Members of the public are encouraged to report all crocodile sightings to the department by using the QWildlife app or by calling 1300 130 372.