SUPPORT FOR CULL
THE residents of the Far North have spoken and are backing a cull of crocodiles.
A comprehensive Cairns Post reader survey found that 77 per cent of respondents support a cull.
But it has been rejected by Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch, who said a cull would create a false sense of security, complacency and a further risk of attacks by the dangerous predators. It follows a month where salties were spotted in freshwater swimming areas such as Babinda and Kuranda.
statewide croc-management decisions.
But she said the survey showed the current program was failing residents.
She said culling was not the answer, but perhaps greater exclusion zones were needed for the animals near human habitat.
“The biggest problem we’ve got is we’ve gone from an endangered species to a recovered species,” she said.
“The government has failed to address the differential that is required between managing that population level.
“And that’s where people are getting desperate.
“They’re seeing that the population has recovered, but we haven’t made adequate legislation and management around that recovered population.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland has urged the State Government to balance the absolute need for human safety with the conservation of crocodiles as part of a submission to Katter’s Australian Party’s Safer Waterways Bill 2018.
TTNQ’s executive officer Pip Close said crocodiles in the wild were part of the attraction of the region and a vital part of the environment that visitors come to see.
“Management of crocodiles needs to take this into account while ensuring crocodiles are removed from waterways where they pose a threat to humans,” she said.