Tourists illegally feed crocodiles in Port Douglas
A James Cook University researcher says he saw and confronted a man who was feeding crocodiles at a popular croc-spotting area near Port Douglas, amid warnings from the state government. Watch the video.
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A James Cook University researcher says he saw and confronted a man who was feeding crocodiles at a popular croc-spotting area near Port Douglas, amid warnings from the state government over the illegal behaviour.
Crocodiles have been spotted lingering underneath the pedestrian bridge at Mowbray River, 9km outside of Port Douglas, with many ascribing the change in behaviour to people feeding the reptiles from the bridge.
JCU Townsville PhD candidate Nicolas Lubitz recently witnessed one such feeding on a research trip.
“They was a guy dropping chicken thighs into the water,” Mr Lubitz said.
He added while other crocodiles in the area were sunning themselves, two roughly 2.5m crocodiles abandoned the activity in search of food.
“As soon as they (the crocodiles) heard the splash, a couple of them came and hung about under the bridge,” he said.
“Based on their behaviour, they knew it was a place to get a feed.”
Mr Lubitz, who studies tropical coastal ecosystems, confronted the man who was surprised to hear feeding the animals was a danger to himself and the crocodile.
“He said ‘oh interesting, why not?’,” Mr Lubitz said.
“I thought it was common knowledge to not feed wild predator animals.”
Mr Lubitz said there was a group of around 10 to 15 people on the bridge at the time watching the feeding.
He said feeding the animals would encourage crocodiles to approach humans and endanger the relationship between crocodiles and humans in the area.
“Crocodiles that start behaving that way are usually removed by the department,” he said.
“Feeding them isn’t helping that (harmonious) relationship.”
Cairns-based conservation group Community Representatives of Crocodiles said they had heard of the feedings but had not seen any occurrences first hand.
Douglas Shire Council said they had not received any reports related to the matter.
A spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Science said the act was illegal and could cost up to $5222 to those who disobey.
“The deliberate feeding of crocodiles is extremely dangerous as it can lead to the animals learning to associate people with food,” the spokesperson said.
They encouraged anyone with information regarding the deliberate feeding of crocodiles to report the incident to the department on 1300 130 372.
The reports of feeding come after a 65-year old Laura man’s remains were found inside two crocodiles after a suspected attack earlier this year.
The man was said to have been close to the water’s edge when the incident occurred.
A dog was also taken and killed at Weary Bay, 50km south of Cooktown, as their owner walked along the waterfront in February.
Originally published as Tourists illegally feed crocodiles in Port Douglas
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