FULL LIST: Meet the 9 biggest crocs removed from Queensland waterways this year

From a 4.8m monster that killed a man on an idyllic tropical island to a 4.5m beast that stalked people, pets and fishermen near one of the state’s popular tourist beaches, these are the biggest crocodiles removed from Queensland waterways this year.

A crocodile that killed a fisherman and another that snatched three calves near a children’s swimming hole are among the dozens of menacing reptiles removed from Queensland waterways this year.

There have been 943 crocodile sightings reported to the Department of Environment and Science (DES) since January 1, with 50 animals declared a “problem” and 46 removed from the wild.

The most recent was a 4.3-metre crocodile removed from the Upper Mowbray River near Port Douglas on October 24.

This massive 4.3m croc was removed from the Mowbray River last Sunday.

DES said a farmer had lost three calves over two months to the giant saltie.

It was also seen swimming at a fishing spot used by children just near a popular swimming hole.

It is yet to be rehomed but because it is over four metres, it is declared an “icon crocodile” and will be taken used by a crocodile farm or zoo for educational purposes.

A DES spokesman said the high number of crocodile sightings this year, up from 360 in 2014, did not necessarily indicate a population increase.

“The growth in residential development in known crocodile habitat means there are more people around to make sighting reports and multiple reports are sometimes made about the same crocodile, as it moves throughout its territory,” the spokesman said.

The owner of North Queensland wildlife park Billabong Sanctuary Bob Flemming, has taken many removed crocodiles into his care, including a 5.3 metre croc named Krakatoa, the biggest in mainland Queensland.

Dynamo, the crocodile removed from Saunders Beach.

The park has just welcomed Dynamo, a 3.5 metre crocodile who loved hanging around three different boat ramps at Saunders Beach in Townsville, and was very comfortable with humans.

The crocodile was seen approaching people fishing in the area where fish frames were often dangerously left before its removal on September 9.

“This croc had been going between the three launching ramps and all the locals new him as Brutus,” Mr Flemming said.

“He is just so used to people so we think he will be doing our feeding shows within a few weeks.”

Sadly one of the removed crocodiles was responsible for the death of Cairns man Andrew Heard on February 11.

The 4.8 metre crocodile was removed from a creek on Hinchinbrook Island, after killing Mr Heard who was fishing, the crocodile was euthanised.

No captured crocodiles are released back into the wild and crocodile management is based in the risk posed by the crocodile.

A croc removed from Lake Placid in Cairns.

In May, DES asked the Queensland Chief Scientist to establish an Independent Expert Evaluation Committee to evaluate the department’s estuarine crocodile management program.

The committee has completed its evaluation and DES is currently considering the report and the recommendations.

NINE BIGGEST CROCS REMOVED IN 2021

1. A 4.8-metre crocodile removed from a creek on Hinchinbrook Island on February 13. This crocodile killed a man fishing from a boat on February 11. The animal was humanely euthanised.

2. A 4.5-metre crocodile removed from Newell Beach near Port Douglas on May 25. This crocodile behaved aggressively near Cooya and Newell beaches, stalked dogs and people on the beach, and behaved aggressively towards a commercial fishing vessel. The animal was placed with a licensed crocodile farm.

3. A 4.3-metre crocodile removed from the Upper Mowbray River near Port Douglas on October 24. The crocodile displayed bold behaviour, with a landholder reporting the loss of three calves at the site over the previous two months. The crocodile was swimming at a fishing spot used by local children, with a popular swimming hole just upstream. The animal is yet to be placed.

The largest removed crocodiles this year Mowbray was the 4.3m croc removed last Sunday.

4. A 3.9-metre crocodile removed from Edmonton, south of Cairns on March 19. This crocodile behaved aggressively near the Edmonton Boat Ramp. The animal was placed with a licensed crocodile farm.

5. A 3 to 4 metre crocodile removed from Thursday Island on April 13. This crocodile behaved aggressively at a boat ramp near houses and at other locations on Thursday and Horn islands. The animal was humanely euthanised (the only option in remote locations where transporting crocodiles over long distances causes great physiological damage and often a slow, painful death).

6. A 3.8-metre crocodile removed from the Cardwell Marina on April 18. This crocodile behaved aggressively around the marina. The animal was placed with a licensed crocodile farm.

The Althaus croc is the one removed from Saunders Beach.

7. A 3.5-metre crocodile removed from Saunders Beach, Townsville on September 9. This crocodile was near boat ramps and a pontoon at Purono Park on Althaus Creek, upstream from Saunders Beach. It approached people fishing in the area where fish frames were often left, a dangerous practice that attracts crocodiles. The animal was placed with a licensed wildlife park.

8. A 3.4-metre crocodile removed from the Mulgrave River at Gordonvale on August 24. The crocodile was near the Mulgrave Sugar Mill in a location frequented by mill workers servicing the mill’s water-cooling system and close to a camping and recreation area. When wildlife officers investigated, it showed no fear of humans. The animal was placed with a licensed crocodile farm.

9. A 2.8-metre crocodile removed from the banks of a lake next to St Crispin’s Ave, Port Douglas, on October 17. The animal frequently swam in the lake and basked on its banks in an area that is highly populated and used by children for fishing and other activities. The animal was placed with a licensed crocodile farm.