We will capture reptile: rangers

RANGERS are confident they will be able to track down and capture the crocodile believed to have attacked and killed Anne Cameron in a creek near Port Douglas.

Wildlife officers from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection are continuing to comb 2.5km of the Mowbray River and Four Mile Beach area for a croc suspected to have killed Mrs Cameron, 79, earlier this week.

EHP’s wildlife director Michael Joyce said he was confident his team of nearly 20 staff, including some who were conducting aerial, ground and water surveys, would be able to capture the croc believed responsible for the fatal attack.

Several traps have been set within the river system and EHP has not ruled out using lethal force once a target animal has been identified.

“We have some of the best croc people in the world here,” Mr Joyce said.

“I think we’ll get the result we need.”

Motorists regularly spot crocodiles basking on the banks of the Mowbray River, across from the bridge over the Captain Cook Highway.

A 3m saltwater croc was captured in a trap in Dicksons Inlet on Thursday and transferred to an EHP holding facility. But Mr Joyce said his team had not yet identified the croc believed to be responsible for the fatal attack on Mrs Cameron, which was suspected to be more than 3m long, showing boldness and sunning itself for large periods of time.

“At the present time, we are looking for an animal that is showing a level of abnormal behaviour,” he said.

He did not rule out the target animal being euthanised if and when it was captured, however he said wildlife officers would examine their entire “toolbox” before considering this action.

Far Northern Acting Inspector Ed Lukin said the human remains, and the location of the clothes and walking stick found during the search, showed a crocodile was involved in the woman’s disappearance.

“Whilst we don’t have a witness that we have had on previous occasions, all the investigations makes us believe that an animal was responsible for this attack, in particular a crocodile,” he said.

Five saltwater crocodiles have been removed from Douglas Shire this year, including four from Dicksons Inlet at Port Douglas, and one from the Daintree River.