Pollie’s demand to reignite croc culls
Crocodiles are moving into areas where they haven’t been seen for over 50 years
NICK DAMETTO
A SALTIE spotted almost 600km south of traditional croc country has reignited calls for Queensland to introduce a cull as their numbers “explode” up north.
Croc experts from North Queensland were sent down to help wildlife rangers track and capture a three-metre saltie spotted at North Stradbroke Island on Wednesday.
A croc sighting that far south is extremely unusual, but experts warn it could become more common as air and sea temperatures change.
Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter called for the Straddie croc to be shot.
Mr Katter said the crocodile didn’t belong in the waters near people.
“People say they need to have their habitats and they have to have their feeding grounds … well I don’t want to be one of their feeds,” he said.
“I want it on the record that I did not put it there.”
KAP State Deputy Leader Nick Dametto said the incident gave southeast Queenslanders just a taste of the croc problem North Queensland has been “forced to deal with for years”.
“Crocodile numbers have exploded everywhere across the north, but recent reports from constituents in the Tully Heads area are causing me particular concern, especially sightings of a three-metrelong crocodile acting aggressively at the local boat ramp,” he said.
“Crocodiles are moving into areas where they haven’t been seen for over 50 years — early last year, a large crocodile took up residence in the centre of Ingham at the TYTO Wetlands, and in December, a large Labrador was taken by a crocodile in Cairns.
“You would think such occurrences
would cause the department to take swift action, but they seem to have a snaillike response to removing these problem crocodiles.”
In Queensland, there are up to 30,000 salties estimated in the wild, with populations bouncing back after being nearly wiped out before the introduction of a 1970s hunting ban. The KAP will renew its push to bring in croc culling when it reintroduces its Safer Waterways Bill into parliament later this year.
Acting Premier Steven Miles was asked if his government would reconsider introducing culls while he was in
Townsville on Friday.
“Our rangers are already authorised to remove crocodiles by whatever means they determine,” he said.
“Of course, largely that’s here in the north where they will trap and relocate dangerous crocodiles or shoot them.
“I’m very grateful for the crocodile experts from Townsville who are currently in Minjerribah working with the rangers to determine … what actions should be taken.
When they find it, then they’ll determine the best way to remove it, whether that’s by trapping and relocating to a farm or by shooting it.”