Majority of crocs ‘caught in a day’

MOST “problem” crocodiles are being captured in Far Northern waterways by rangers within a day, but some traps for the predators have been sitting empty for several weeks.

Figures released last week as part of the State Estimates process show that during the 2018-19 financial year, 61 per cent of problem saltwater crocodile declarations were resolved within 24 hours, however the average time taken to resolve these declarations was 13 days.

The figures are an improvement compared to data from two years ago, which showed the majority of crocs (64 per cent) were being caught within a week of being reported.

In response to an estimates pre-hearing question on notice, Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the median time taken in 2019-20 to resolve declared problem crocs would not exceed seven business days.

“This performance measure was amended to better reflect the effectiveness of the Department of Environment and Science’s crocodile management program,” she said.

Meanwhile the departments’ crocodile contractors, ALL SET: A croc trap at Cattana Wetlands. Pic: DANIEL BATEMAN Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation, have kept a crocodile trap at Cattana Wetlands, at Yorkeys Knob, for several weeks trying to capture a 2m saltwater croc that was originally reported to DES in May.

Corporation spokesman Gavin Singleton said the croc had remained elusive.

“I know that they did take the trap out, and then put it back in again,” he said.

“Hopefully they can get it in the trap, otherwise we’ll have to speak to the department about other ways to catch that croc.”

DES did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

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