Farmer offers to catch crocs

A CROCODILE farmer is in discussions with the State Government about helping to catch the reptiles on the Atherton Tablelands to reduce their numbers in the region’s waterways.

It comes as Katter’s Australian Party has threatened to suspend standing orders in State Parliament to fast track debate and passage of its controversial Safer Waterways Bill.

Under the proposed Bill, crocodiles would be culled on Cape York to decrease the dangerous animals’ Queensland population.

The Cairns Post reported yesterday a study co-authored by a Department of Environment and Heritage Protection scientist had found “the level of crocodile conflict in Queensland is increasing, and this is likely a consequence of increasing human and crocodile populations.”

A small crocodile bit a farm worker at Mareeba last weeken when he tried to remove the reptile after it was scorched in a cane fire.

Melaleuca Crocodile Farm co-owner Juergen Arnold, whose Mareeba farm receives problem crocodiles caught in Far Northern waterways from rangers, said he had offered to help EHP catch any rogue predators in the local area.

He said he was still waiting to find out whether the department would accept his offer.

“They told me they would appreciate if we catch the crocs, but it will still be a while before it is approved and we can start it,” he said.

EHP has started a threeyear survey of the state’s crocodiles to determine what management actions are needed.

Mr Arnold agreed that the overall population of crocodiles in Queensland had risen in recent decades and questioned the need for the largescale survey. “If the crocodile population is going up in populated areas, I don’t think (EHP) needs to count the crocs in the wild,” he said.

Dalrymple MP Shane Knuth said KAP would seek to force debate on the party’s croc management laws for the complete removal of the animals from populated coastal areas.

“It is absolutely essential we suspend standing orders in Parliament to fast track debate and passage of KAP’s Safer Waterways Bill, which legislates the controlled removal of crocs, egg harvesting and safari hunting,” he said.

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