Warning of wet season danger as statistics reveal 35 FNQ crocs were shot or removed

Wildlife officers have issued a wet season warning to Far Northerners as the number of crocs shot or removed during the past year is revealed – and many incidents were the result of risky behaviour by people.

ABOUT 35 crocodiles have been shot or removed across the Far North so far this year – and many incidents were the result of risky behaviour by people.

A total of 18 crocodiles had their fate altered in Cairns Regional Council area, with 13 removed across Cassowary Coast Regional Council and two apiece at Douglas Shire and Cook Shire.

The Department of Environment and Science (DES) is warning crocodiles will be on the move as the wet season gets under way, advising people to be wary near water – even when there’s no warning signs.

Department of Environment and Science (DES) wildlife officers recently captured a 4.5-metre crocodile at Newell Beach, north of Port Douglas. Picture: supplied.

A DES spokesman said crocodiles would be looking for food, establishing breeding territories and seeking a mate.

“Risky behaviour by people in and around waterways can lead to interactions between people and crocodiles that can result in serious injury or death,” he said.

Crocs will loiter around boat ramps or marinas if anglers inadvertently or deliberately feed them fish scraps and discarded bait.

And the fine for deliberately feeding crocodiles is $5222.

Crocodiles posing a threat to human safety are targeted for removal under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan – but it seems that in many instances, people have disregarded the threat posed by crocodiles.

It comes after a fisherman had a “miracle” escape from a 4m croc which dragged him into the water in remote Cape York on November 4.

That crocodile will stay in its McIvor River home given the remote location and limited access to the site.

But others haven’t been as lucky.

This “icon” croc was removed from the Mowbray River in October. .

A 4.3m “icon” crocodile was removed from the Mowbray River near Port Douglas in late October.

The reptile was suspected of taking several weaner calves and was near an informal swimming holes and fishing area used by children.

A 2.2m crocodile was removed from the Redbank boat ramp at Packers Camp in recent weeks, with DES saying wildlife officers feared the croc was hanging around the boat ramp because people had been feeding it.

A 2.5m croc copped a shot in the head after a pair of solders were mauled while swimming a kilometre off the Lockhart River coast in Cape York in September.

Both have returned to duty.

Temple Guesthouse owner Jayson Watkins, who helped rescue the men, said there were lucky they were attacked by the “little fella” in comparison to 4m crocs in the area.

“They were victims of their ignorance, they were incredibly naive and they almost paid the ultimate price,” he said.

North Queensland man Andy Heard was taken by a crocodile while on a fishing trip near Hinchinbrook. Picture Supplied

In May, a 4.5m croc with a crab pot stuck on its head was removed from Newell Beach, and

Crocodiles are often spotted at Port Douglas golf courses and during times of local flooding, in sports fields or even suburban streets.

In February, veteran yachtsman Andy Heard was killed by a giant saltwater crocodile after he went fishing in a creek in a small tender.

Human remains were found inside a 4.2m crocodile which was shot by rangers three days after Mr Heard vanished.

Weipa man Isaac Adidi, 22, was attacked while swimming, by a 3.6m croc at Vyce’s Crossing near Weipa in February.

A notorious croc encounter took place when a swimmer was bitten on the head by a 2.5m croc at Lake Placid in January.

The victim, Mark Ridge, 56, called for the animal to be shot.

The croc was captured and removed.

Crocs greater than 4m are dealt with as an ‘icon crocodile’ under Queensland’s conservation laws, meaning choices about where the croc will be housed must be made in consultation with the relevant Traditional Owners.

Originally published as Warning of wet season danger as statistics reveal 35 FNQ crocs were shot or removed