Lack of rangers lets Qld crocodile killers escape prosecution
Trophy hunters who kill and behead sacred crocodiles are escaping prosecution as understaffed wildlife teams battle to enforce tough new protection laws.
Trophy hunters selling crocodile heads on the black market are evading prosecution as understaffed wildlife teams battle to catch poachers.
At least five crocodiles have been decapitated in the state’s Far North in just two years, including “Lizzie” in the Daintree, an unnamed croc in Cow Bay and multiple beheadings at the Norman River.
Earlier this month, a grisly image of a severed head in a car boot, believed to belong to a crocodile affectionately known as “Big John”, was shared online by Yarrabah residents amid speculation the trophy was destined to be sold on the black market.
At the time, there were calls for a criminal investigation into the decapitation of the crocodile, which is considered to be a totem animal.
To members of the Gunggandji clan, crocs are sacred spirit animals and traditionally were never hunted.
Just 21 specialist staff work in the Northern Wildlife Operations Team, tasked with responding to croc sightings, capturing problem animals, educating the public and research and monitoring duties.
The staff, employed by the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, are spread out across the state’s north, with seven staff in Cairns, three in Innisfail, nine in Townsville and two in Rockhampton.
More staff are needed if the team has any hope of properly enforcing tough new croc protection laws passed into law last year, according to the recent Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill.
The case of the beheading has not been passed onto police for criminal investigation, despite photos showing Big John’s head after it was loaded in the back of an orange hatchback.
It’s understood this vehicle has been spotted driving in the area since the incident.
Community Representations of Crocodiles conservation group co-founder Amanda French said laws only made an impact if they were enforced.
Since the crackdown on illegal crocodile feeding last year, Ms French said no fines had been handed out and a lack of prosecutions in relation to croc killings clearly indicated offences were going unpunished.
“Surely, if departments are not resourced enough, why aren’t they out there addressing local media regularly to at least highlight these offences and showing a strong deterrent against this behaviour.
“It’s just crickets, and that job has fallen to our community platform to raise awareness of it instead.”
The department was sent an extensive list of questions relating to resourcing and the reason for police not becoming involved in the Big John decapitation investigation.
The questions were not answered.
Since the beginning of 2020, there have been five prosecutions under the Nature Conservation Act and just one in the past two years, according to DETSI information.
Yarrabah traditional owner and Gunggandji man Warren Martens launched his own investigation into the death of Big John and passed on key information to the department.
He did not wish to reveal exactly what his probe had uncovered for fear of jeopardising an official investigation.
“It’s now up to the department to make sure they get to the bottom of these allegations,” he said.
“How do we put pressure on the department to speed up their work because my worry is that it’s going to die down.
“For me it’s a matter of when it’s going to happen again and the people responsible need to be made an example of.”
Mr Martens also raised fears about the removal or killing of Clyde the iconic crocodile near Babinda and suggested a fence could be erected around the area to stop access to the river.
The owner of the fishing nets that Big John was caught in are not accused of beheading the crocodile.
A DETSI spokesman said the Yarrabah crocodile was buried following consultation with local traditional owners and the investigation into the death of Big John was ongoing.
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Originally published as Lack of rangers lets Qld crocodile killers escape prosecution
