Sharp divide over whether to cull dangerous crocodiles

Should they be left alone or killed? The community speaks out including a third-generation Mackay croc handler

Bredls Wild Farm co-owner Daniel Bredl in front of the Bloomsbury property's wetlands Picture: Heidi Petith

A swimmer who survived having his head inside a crocodile’s mouth has reignited fierce debate over whether the reptiles should be culled in Queensland.

The 44-year-old man who was swimming at Lake Placid in Cairns on Thursday made a “very lucky” escape after he was able to prise away the crocodile’s jaws.

When a question was posed to Daily Mercury readers on Facebook over whether deadly crocodiles should be killed, there were strong opinions on both sides of the debate.

A 4.5m crocodile was shot by traditional owners in Gunbalanya earlier this year. Picture: Dan McLaren

OConnell Quin said those opposed to the idea should refrain from using insecticides while Shaun Green said he wanted to see the “poxy dangerous things” gone.

“Crocs have had their time, they were around when the dinosaurs walked the earth,” Mr Green said.

“Give us back our rivers and estuaries for swimming.

“Cull the lot.”

Crocodile warning sign at the Wilson's Beach swimming enclosure in the Whitsundays. Picture: Rae Wilson

Others like Neville Clark and Catherine Parr advocated for people to stay out of their habitat.

“Just don’t swim there,” Melissa Rawlings posted.

“Go to Crystals (Creek) and the many croc-free swimming holes.”

Then there were those considering whether it was sensible to moderate populations with concerns crocodiles were becoming more daring.

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“Earlier this week, a croc chased a fish a person caught onto a pontoon,” Kel Bunyan posted.

“There are some people here who need to see what apex predators act like.

“Guys, would you let a dingo in a daycare centre?”

The Mercury asked third-generation crocodile handler Daniel Bredl for his thoughts.

Daniel Bredl hosting crocodile shows at the Bredls Wild Farm in Bloomsbury. Picture: Contributed

The Bredls Wild Farm co-owner said the park recently took in a crocodile found on a person’s private property after being wrestled from Peter Faust Dam in Proserpine.

“Be careful,” the Bloomsbury resident advised.

“Someone’s going to get killed locally here, it’s only a matter of time.

“There’s too many crocs, they’re bumping up in number.

“I’ve got a whole different attitude to the management side of things.

“I think we should be removing some of the big fellas in built-up areas like Proserpine River.

“Just leave the smaller males in there.

“They’ll breed with all the girls anyhow.

“You can have a beautiful population but you can minimise the human risk.

A large 4.5m saltwater crocodile, which the locals have nicknamed Bismark, chomps down on a green sea turtle on the beach near the jetty at Cardwell. Photo taken on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Picture: Denise Stewart

Mr Bredl explained a crocodile’s territory was proportionate to its size and so a 2m male would command a smaller space than an older 4m male.

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He said it was creatures larger than about 3.5m that became deadly to humans, which was seconded by the Environment Department’s Dr Matthew Brien.

Dr Matthew Brien, program co-ordinator for northern wildlife operations with the Department of Environment and Science, said there was no doubt a crocodile was responsible for the attack on a 44-year-old man at Lake Placid. Picture: Bronwyn Farr.

“The man (at Cairns) was incredibly lucky, as it was a 2.5m crocodile which is common size for non-fatal attacks,” the program co-ordinator for northern wildlife operations said.

“If it was a 4m croc … if it was to grab hold of him, then the outcome would have been a fatality,” Dr Brien said.

“The chances of surviving an attack from a 4m crocodile are zero.”

The DES confirmed it was searching for the crocodile involved in the Cairns attack.

You can report local sightings of crocodiles via the QWildlife CrocWatch app.

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