Petition calls for Alister McPhee to be charged with animal cruelty following crocodile attack

Bob Irwin, renowned conservationist and father of Steve Irwin, has launched a blistering attack on the owner of a dog mauled to death by a monster crocodile in Far North Queensland.

• Opinion: ‘Plain stupidity’ caused death of two animals

Respected conservationist Bob Irwin has launched a blistering attack on the Queensland Government after the killing of a crocodile which mauled a man and devoured his dog in the state’s Far North.

The media-shy Mr Irwin – father of the late “The Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin – has also slammed the actions of the man, demanding he be punished.

“This individual, whose plain stupidity has now caused the death of two animals unnecessarily, needs to be penalised for what has occurred,” the 85-year-old said.

Conservationist Bob Irwin. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mr Irwin’s extraordinary public outburst comes as a petition circulates among concerned citizens to charge 37-year-old Alister MacPhee with animal cruelty.

Mr MacPhee, who has declined to give interviews, is understood to have led his dog Molly down to the Bloomfield River, south of Cooktown, on February 22. His camera was rolling and captured the crocodile biting him on the leg and fatally swallowing Molly.

Footage of the crocodile attack.

Mr Irwin said the subsequent killing of the 4.2m croc by wildlife officers from the Department of Environment and Science was “pointless”.

“Things will only change when the authorities start to look at this for what it really is – a

human management issue. Because let’s be really matter of fact here – a crocodile has never once eaten anybody out of their bedroom.”

Mr Irwin, who resigned from Australia Zoo in 2008, said the government needed a new approach.

Frightening vision surfaced of the wild crocodile attack on a man and his dog in Far North Queensland.

“Unless we can guarantee that every single crocodile is eradicated from the waterways, it will never be safe for the Queensland Government to advise that it is suitable to enter the water anywhere in crocodile territory. It is only lulling people into a false sense of security,” he said.

Mr Irwin called for tougher penalties.

“You cannot go within 100 metres of a humpback whale in the ocean, feed or make food available to dingoes on K’gari, swim in restricted areas at Babinda Boulders, or be caught feeding cassowaries from your picnic rug at Etty Bay. It is now an offence,” he said.

“But what doesn’t make sense is that you can set up your video camera beside a prominent government warning sign advising that saltwater crocodiles are present, strip down to your Speedos, and lead your pet dog in the water, without a single consequence at all – the crocodile and the dog both paying the price.”

A petition shared by Aussie Snake Wrangler Mick Bender has called for Alister McPhee to be charged with animal cruelty following crocodile attack. Photo: @mickbender on Instagram.

Meanwhile, fellow conservationist Mick Bender has thrown his support behind a petition calling on the government to charge Mr MacPhee with serious animal cruelty.

“We need to hold this bloke accountable for his actions. No longer can we let innocent native wildlife die from the absolute stupidity of humans,” Mr Bender wrote on Instagram.

The petition, created by Cairns business owner Tommy Hayes, had attracted more than 430 signatures by Tuesday afternoon.

“Dogs are not disposable and should not be used as bait or fun for the camera. This man is not a hero for ‘surviving’ a croc attack, he is not a victim, he is an animal abuser and should be charged under Queensland law,” the petition states.

Mr Irwin said the incident should be “made a very specific example of, in terms of where human error was involved and what course of action will be taken to better protect our wildlife and people”.

“The eye-for-an-eye mentality is not solving the problem.

“I am particularly disheartened that all these years on, we still cannot coexist with our native wildlife.

“The statements issued by the Department of Environment and Science have only defended the actions of the individual, and demonised the crocodile,” Mr Irwin said.

A Department of Environment and Science spokesman has said the Bloomfield River was well known croc country.

“Expect crocodiles in all Wujal waterways even if there is no warning sign,” he said.

“Always supervise children near the water and keep pets on a lead.”