Cape York crocodiles: Campaign to return Old Faithful to Lakefiled River
A powerful legal group has slammed the state over the controversial removal of a beloved 4.5-m crocodile from a Cape York waterway, demanding answers over “questionable” tactics to condemn the animal to a life in captivity.
A powerful legal group has slammed the Queensland government over the controversial removal of a beloved 4.5m crocodile froma Cape York waterway, demanding answers over the use of “questionable” tactics to condemn the animal to a life in captivity.
The large saltie, known in the community as Old Faithful, was first relocated to the area by Steve Irwin in the 1980s.
The Environmental Defenders Office has penned a legal letter to the Environment Department’s Northern Wildlife Operationsdirector, Lindsay Delzoppo, acting on behalf of the conservation group Community Representation of Crocodiles, known as CROC.
The letter which copied in top-ranking North Queensland wildlife managers, sought “urgent” clarification as to why Old Faithfulwas removed. It also questioned a provision in the Nature Conservation Plan of 2018, which effectively grants the chief executivepower to euthanise crocs or or to condemn wild saltiesto lifelong captivity.
“An estuarine crocodile in the wild is a problem crocodile if the chief executive considers the crocodile is, or is likelyto become, a danger to humans,” North Queensland managing lawyer Kirstiana Ward wrote.
“Old Faithful is not a problem crocodile if he is not, and has not been demonstrating behaviours that would identify him asa problem crocodile.
“A decision to remove him may be a breach of the Human Rights Act if his removal is not reasonable.”
The EDO asked for “urgent clarification” on “engagement with traditional owners and their cultural rights under ... the HumanRights Act in relation to this potential removal of their culturally significant and totemic icon.”
CROC spokesman Jack Gatto expressed great sadness that Old Faithful had been removed, having lived at the waterhole from the1980s until last week.
“They removed Old Faithful despite there being no record of him behaving aggressively or being reported as a problem,” hesaid.
“He was taken from the park and now sits in a government holding facility awaiting transfer to a croc farm for doing nothingwrong at all.
“Right now we are working really hard to stop Old Faithful being moved any further until a proper investigation has been carried out.”
Mr Gatto claimed the decision went against the government’s own criteria for removal, which requires crocodiles be largerthan 2m, be in a high population area or pose a danger to humans.
“His removal is unjustified and reflects a heavy-handed approach by the environmental department in Queensland,” he said.
The CROC spokesman also said there had been no reports made through the QWildlife app of aggressive behaviour at the Old FaithfulWaterhole on the Normanby River.
But the state’s environment regulator responded in a counter claim that Old Faithful had been “extensively monitored” byrangers after safety concerns were raised by national park visitors.
“We understand people were using food to lure the animal from the water to take photos,” a spokeswoman said.
“Habituating crocodiles is detrimental to the animal and dangerous for people.
“The crocodile was displaying repeated and concerning behaviour that was escalating.
“It was ultimately removed to keep people safe.”
The conservation group has criticised the Environment Department for using a technique known as a “fishing test” to gaugeif crocs were a risk to the public by luring a croc to the side of a boat with a fish, which CROC claims is neither subjectivenor an evidence-based approach.
Despite claims of no consultation with traditional owners leading up to Old Faithful’s removal, the Cairns Post has confirmedthe board of the Rinyirru Lakefield Aboriginal Corporation were approached by the state government.
Board members declined to comment.
Cape York stakeholders are concerned the totem animal could meet his demise after beingrelocated to a croc farm due to commercial skin producers having little need for adult male crocodiles.
Cairns-based Gunggandji man Warren Martens shared concerns about the fate of Old Faithful. “(Relocation) is code for gettingrid of them,” he said. “It’s sad that the department is moving crocs off the country to this facility.”
On Thursday Environment Minister Andrew Powell’s office had received more than 300 letters supporting the return of Old Faithful to the wild.
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Originally published as Cape York crocodiles: Campaign to return Old Faithful to Lakefiled River
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