EFFORTS TO RESCUE CROC SHOT WITH ARROW
DANIEL BATEMAN daniel.bateman@news.com.au
RANGERS were last night trying to rescue a saltwater crocodile that appears to have been shot in the head with an arrow in a Far Northern river.
The Department of Environment and Science is investigating the circumstances surrounding a 3.5m saltie that has been photographed swimming in the Johnstone River, just upstream of Innisfail, with an arrow sticking out of its head.
The apex predator was initially reported to the department on Monday after it was spotted swimming between moored vessels.
It was then photographed on Thursday by Snapping Tours operator Brenton Gangemi.
Mr Gangemi, who provides crocodile spotting cruises in the river, was appalled by the sight of the injured croc.
“It’s pretty terrible,” he said. “As much as people say there’s millions of crocs around, there’s not that many, to the point where we may be running out of them.”
A DES spokesman said wildlife officers were last night attempting to capture the animal to remove the arrow.
“The animal may also require veterinary advice or treatment,” he said.
Due to the croc’s location it is to be permanently removed from the Johnstone River under the state’s crocodile management plan.
Mr Gangemi said if the croc survived it was a shame it would never return to the wild.
He said it could take up to two years for a similar-sized crocodile to move into the territory. “Every time they get killed or the department takes one out, you lose them, and it might take 1-2 years to get them back,” he said.
It is illegal to deliberately harm or kill a saltwater crocodile. Offenders face a maximum fine of $30,026.
Daintree tour operator David White said it was “irresponsible and impractical” for people to consider the way to keep others safe from crocodiles was by killing and removing the animals from the wild.
“Unless we kill them all, this is pointless,” he said. “It serves little purpose other than satisfying our desperate need to dominate nature.
“You can remove 10, 100 or 1000 crocs, but at the end of the day, you only need one to spoil your day.
“This is croc country, it is part of the FNQ culture we should be proud of.”
Anyone with information about the crocodile is urged to contact DES on 1300 130 372.