Monster crocodile caught at Cardwell after incident with houseboat, family’s dog

A monster saltwater crocodile believed responsible for an attack on a human and death of a pet dog has been captured at a North Queensland marina.

A monster saltwater crocodile believed to be responsible for an attack on a human and death of at least one pet dog has been captured in spectacular fashion at a North Queensland marina.

The saltie, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length was caught in a large metal trap placed by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell between Townsville and Cairns on Monday.

DESI confirmed in Cardwell on Monday that the animal was most likely responsible for the attack on Dean Grieve who was aboard his houseboat in the marina on April 19.

The croc, which launched itself out of the water, missed Mr Grieve by inches but is believed to have taken the man’s pet dog a couple of weeks prior.

It was the second attack in North Queensland in two days, with Yaruga fisherman Stephen Wood left haunted by a similarly narrow escape at Cattle Creek just south of Ingham on April 18.

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation Wildlife Officers remove a saltwater crocodile, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell between Townsville and Cairns in North Queensland on Monday. The animal is believed to be responsible for an attack on a human and death of at least one pet dog. Picture: Cameron Bates

The Cattle Creek crocodile, also estimated to be at least four metres, has so far eluded DESI attempts to catch it.

DESI Wildlife Officers swung into action on Monday morning after the rogue Port Hinchinbrook croc took the bait and entered the trap attached to the jetty of a private residence.

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation Wildlife Officers remove a saltwater crocodile, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell between Townsville and Cairns in North Queensland on Monday. The animal is believed to be responsible for an attack on a human and death of at least one pet dog. Picture: Cameron Bates

It was the same trap used to snare a smaller three-metre crocodile on May 9.

DESI at the time expressed concerns that the animal was being fed and had become used to the presence of humans.

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation Wildlife Officers remove a saltwater crocodile, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell between Townsville and Cairns in North Queensland on Monday. The animal is believed to be responsible for an attack on a human and death of at least one pet dog. Picture: Cameron Bates

Wildlife Officer Ella Meeve said the captured saltwater crocodile was the same size as the animal involved in the reported attack on Mr Grieve.

“We did receive reports of a crocodile approximately four metres in length that was involved in that alleged incident that occurred,” she said at the Port Hinchinbrook boat ramp.

“The animal that we have trapped today does appear to be of that size so that leads us to believe it is the target animal.”

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation Wildlife Officers remove a saltwater crocodile, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell between Townsville and Cairns in North Queensland on Monday. The animal is believed to be responsible for an attack on a human and death of at least one pet dog. Picture: Cameron Bates

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation Wildlife Officers remove a saltwater crocodile, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell between Townsville and Cairns in North Queensland on Monday. The animal is believed to be responsible for an attack on a human and death of at least one pet dog. Picture: Cameron Bates

Boatie and keen fisherman Andrew Heard was killed and eaten by a five-metre long male crocodile and at least one female in waters off Cardwell in early 2021.

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation Wildlife Officers remove a saltwater crocodile, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell between Townsville and Cairns in North Queensland on Monday. The animal is believed to be responsible for an attack on a human and death of at least one pet dog. Picture: Cameron Bates

Ms Meeve, who is based in Townsville, said the lack of water in the Port Hinchinbrook marina, even at high tide, made for a difficult removal operation.

In normal circumstances, the trap containing the problem animal would be removed from the water and placed on the truck for transportation.

“In this instance, unfortunately, the tides didn’t allow for that; it meant we weren’t able to tow the trap back in because we didn’t have enough water, which is why we had to extract the animal from the trap.”

It took a team of eight Wildlife Officers to remove the angry animal from the trap, tow it to shore, place it in a holding container and load it on a trailer for transport to DESI facilities in Townsville.

Originally published as Monster crocodile caught at Cardwell after incident with houseboat, family’s dog